The Scottish Conservatives have today (Friday) published their manifesto for North East Scotland – a region they say has been “betrayed by a Central Belt-focused SNP Government”.
Standing up for tens of thousands of oil and gas workers is among the headline pledges in the manifesto, which is entitled ‘Focusing on the real priorities of the North East’.
Other key commitments include:
- Upgrading the A96 and A90
- Growing the North East economy by lowering taxes on workers and passing on rates relief to all businesses
- Full fibre broadband rollout across all of Scotland by 2027
- Securing a fair funding deal for North East councils
- Protecting farming and fishing communities by reversing SNP cuts
The North East is a key General Election battleground, with the Scottish Conservatives in a straight battle with the SNP in a host of seats.
Scottish Conservative candidate for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Andrew Bowie said: “This manifesto outlines key policies that would revitalise the North East, which has been betrayed by this Central Belt-focused SNP Government.
“The SNP have turned their backs on tens of thousands of skilled workers in the region by opposing new North Sea oil and gas licences. In contrast, the Scottish Conservatives are the only party to recognise the crucial role oil and gas will play for decades to come as part of a just transition.
“We are pledging to dual the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness and upgrade the A90, after years of SNP failure.
“The SNP have hit the local economy by making Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK, failing to pass on rates relief to businesses, cutting farming and fishing budgets and botching the R100 broadband rollout. The Scottish Conservatives have outlined plans to right all of these SNP wrongs.
“In seats across the region, it’s a straight fight between the Scottish Conservatives and an independence-obsessed SNP, which has no interest in, or understanding of, the North East.
“Voters who are sick and tired of their priorities being ignored by the SNP must unite behind the Scottish Conservatives on July 4 to ensure the North East elects MPs who will champion the area, rather than the break-up of the UK.”
