Swinney wants to offer ‘hope’ in Holyrood election

The SNP campaign is the only one working to win this election, the First Minister has claimed, as he said he wants to offer people hope through the “fresh start” of independence.

John Swinney, who was visiting a farmers market in Perth on Saturday, said the SNP is campaigning “all out” to win the election.

Speaking at the end of the first full week of campaigning ahead of the Holyrood election in May, Mr Swinney said the SNP message is “striking a chord” with people around the country.

He told the Press Association: “The SNP is campaigning all out to win this election and to win with an overall majority, and the public are responding positively to the key messages we’re setting out about delivering improvements to the National Health Service, where we’re reducing long waits for treatment, just as I promised would be the case, and by the SNP offering the support in relation to the cost-of-living challenges that people face in Scotland.

“I want to offer people hope in this election through the fresh start of independence, which will allow us to make sure that Scotland’s enormous energy wealth can be used to reduce people’s bills, and to make sure the energy wealth of Scotland is used to benefit the people of Scotland.

“That message is striking a chord with the public around Scotland and that is supporting and strengthening the SNP’s campaign across Scotland.”

He added: “The SNP campaign is the only campaign that is working to win this election and to win it with an SNP majority that can start making the improvements that people need to see, by strengthening the National Health Service and tackling the cost-of-living challenges that people face in Scotland.”

Mr Swinney earlier in the day claimed that Labour had now “given up the pretence” that it was trying to win a majority at Holyrood.

He repeated his claims that Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar wanted to do a deal with Reform to become first minister – something both parties deny.

He said an SNP majority at Holyrood would lock out the “politics of Nigel Farage” from power in Scotland.

Mr Swinney said his party was the only one with a “serious plan” for Scotland.

He accused Labour and Reform of having “nothing to say” on the “energy crisis hammering households”.

The First Minister was on the campaign trail with Perthshire South and Kinross-shire local candidate Jim Fairlie on Saturday.

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: “This election should be about the cost of living but John Swinney only wants to talk about independence.

“We know that if the SNP get a majority, Swinney will use it as a mandate to break up the United Kingdom.

“This is not some distant threat. The danger of an SNP majority is very real.

“But Scots can stop it, just like we did in 2016 and 2021.

“John Swinney thinks he’s got this election in the bag, but you can stop him by voting Scottish Conservative on your peach ballot paper.

“That’s your secret weapon to stop an SNP majority.”

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: “John Swinney’s arrogance is breathtaking.

“This election is our first real chance in nearly 20 years to change the Scottish government and it is not a chance we can afford to miss.

“Scottish Labour is determined to get rid of this tired and complacent SNP government, and deliver a better future for Scotland.

“On May 7 we can reject Reform and vote for change by electing a Scottish Labour government that will get the basics right in our public services and make life more affordable for Scots.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat deputy leader Wendy Chamberlain MP said: “John Swinney is tired and desperate. He doesn’t have anything to offer Scotland.

“For 19 years, the SNP have taken a sledgehammer to our NHS, our ferries, our schools and our rural communities.

“Scotland deserves better than the SNP and Reform, and in areas across the country, only the Scottish Liberal Democrats are taking the fight to them.

“If you want change with fairness at its heart and MSPs who will get stuff done, you should back the Scottish Liberal Democrats on your second, peach, regional ballot paper.”

Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay said: “Many of the most important steps that Scotland has taken to tackle poverty were Green policies.

“It was the Scottish Greens who delivered free bus travel for young people, scrapped peak rail fares, rolled out free school meals for thousands more children and ended school meal debt.

“Without Green MSPs pushing and negotiating for these policies, they would not have happened.

“If people want to secure a pro-independence majority, lock out Reform and the Tories, and deliver the bold change that is needed, then the best way to do it is by voting for the Scottish Greens on May 7th.”