Rural communities have been ‘abandoned’ by SNP, say Scottish Tories

The Scottish Conservatives said rural communities have been “shamefully abandoned” by the SNP as they published a dedicated rural manifesto.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay will visit a farm in Aberdeenshire with Moray candidate Tim Eagle as he sets out the party’s rural manifesto.

Mr Findlay said the manifesto offers “common sense” policies that will “reverse two decades of SNP neglect” for rural communities.

He said: “Our dedicated rural manifesto is full of common sense policies that will reverse two decades of SNP neglect.

“These communities have been shamefully abandoned by Central Belt-obsessed SNP ministers who have repeatedly attacked the rural way of life.

“Years of SNP cuts mean rural communities are being forced to pay more in tax, while getting less in the way of local services.

“That situation is unsustainable.

“If it continues, we will only see more and more people leave rural Scotland for opportunities elsewhere.

“The Scottish Conservatives are the only party at Holyrood who have consistently stood against the SNP’s anti-rural agenda.”

Included in the rural manifesto are proposals to establish Scottish Business Zones in rural areas, commit to multi-annual funding for the farming and fishing industries and introduce a rural crime Bill at the start of the next parliament.

The manifesto also pledges connectivity in rural Scotland, including upgrading roads such as the A9, A96, A75 and A83 and creating a rural bus fund.

The party also aims to establish “repopulation zones” to encourage those who have left depopulated areas to return.

Mr Findlay said: “The other parties don’t understand or care about those who live outside our towns and cities – and that includes Reform, who are proposing to disperse asylum seekers from urban areas to rural camps without any recognition of the toll this would have on overstretched services.

“Voters should back the Scottish Conservatives on their peach ballot paper to help stop an SNP majority and ensure rural communities have their voice heard in Parliament.”

Mr Eagle said: “As a farmer in Moray I have seen first hand the deeply damaging impact of the SNP’s failure to support rural Scotland.

“Our communities have been an afterthought for the nationalists, and local people are sick and tired of politicians who are wildly out of touch with the reality they face.

“The Scottish Conservatives’ bold plans show we are listening to rural Scotland and can deliver the positive changes they are desperate to see.

“If the SNP win the election the interests of rural Scotland will once again be at the bottom of the pile, which is why you must use your peach ballot to vote for the Scottish Conservatives to stop an SNP majority.”

Emma Harper, SNP candidate for Galloway and Dumfries West, said: “Voters won’t forget that it was the Tories who dragged us out of the EU against its will, inflicting untold damage on businesses across rural Scotland.

“Our farmers, fishermen, and rural businesses have been hammered by funding cuts, rising energy bills and petrol prices, and problems recruiting staff due to increasingly hostile migration policies introduced by the Tories and doubled down on by Keir Starmer.

“John Swinney has put rural Scotland at the heart of government and brings the reliable leadership which our rural communities need. Vote SNP on May 7th for the only party which will always put the interests of Scotland’s rural communities and businesses first.”