The North East “cannot afford another five years” of SNP in government after 19 years in charge at Holyrood, the Scottish Conservatives said today.
Candidates Douglas Lumsden and Alexander Burnett outlined a dossier of 26 key “scandals” ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections on May 7, underlining how voters should remember key moments when SNP politicians let the North East down.
These include the uncertainty in North Sea oil and gas caused by the SNP’s refusal to publish its energy policy ahead of the election, the closure of minor injury units leading to crisis at ARI, and the delays to vital safety improvements on the A90 and A96.
The Tories have also claimed it is “down to having campaigning, local Scottish Conservative voices at Holyrood” when action has finally been taken on issues by the SNP.
One example is the election promise to improve the dangerous A90 Toll of Birness in 2017. Talks with Nestrans are making progress following years of Scottish Conservative campaigning on this issue.
Torry’s Raac victims were given access to £10m in restorative funding after Scottish Conservative research found unspent City Deal cash.
Tories stood up for Scottish fishermen to defeat the controversial HPMAs, and the Aberdeenshire-based Scottish Men’s Sheds Association was on the brink of shuttering before campaigning forced an SNP funding u-turn.
Douglas Lumsden, candidate for Aberdeenshire East, said:
“We can point to a strong record of local delivery since 2016 and have forced the SNP’s hand on many key issues.
“John Swinney does not want us back because we’ve been a thorn in his side — the only ones who’ll stick up for the region and hold the Scottish Government to account when it fails to deliver on its many broken promises.
“As well as highlighting these scandals, we’ve also got a positive manifesto which reflects the challenges and opportunities faced in our part of Scotland.
“It’s the only mainstream policy platform that backs oil and gas workers and their families, helps the High Street and offers real assistance to those struggling to heat their homes in winter.”
Aberdeenshire West candidate Alexander Burnett said:
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“The North East cannot afford another five years of SNP government, after being failed by a succession of nationalist first ministers.
“We’ve been able to score some big wins for constituents in the last two terms, and that is down to having campaigning, local Scottish Conservative voices at Holyrood.
“So we’re asking everyone who wants to stop an SNP majority, and who wants MSPs who will stand up for them in the North East, to vote for us in the constituency, but also unite around the Scottish Conservatives on the peach regional ballot paper.”
