Gillian Martin was accused of being a “liar” and the SNP were branded “corrupt” at an NFU Scotland hustings, prompting her to admit that farmers won’t vote for her at the upcoming election.
In her closing speech at a packed hustings in Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, the SNP candidate for Aberdeenshire East went on to say that she “doesn’t have the same political leanings” as farmers.
Ms Martin was heckled on numerous occasions by the audience during a range of questions, with one farmer accusing her of being a “liar” and the SNP of being “corrupt” during their 19 years in government.
On a difficult evening for Ms Martin on a panel in front of 80 farmers, another audience member gave a large yawn during her closing speech that could be heard by the rest of the crowd.
Farmers also criticised Labour for not attending the NFU Scotland hustings.
Issues that were raised during the night included concerns about the SNP’s plans to cap food prices, the impact of business rates rises, concerns over imports, disparages over support payments, fears about the rising number of badgers and sea eagles, concerns about the loss of livestock, and calls for roads and railways to be upgraded.
The evening was chaired by NFUS regional board chair David Greer, and included audience members from Scottish Land and Estates, as well as a range of farming businesses across the North East.
In her closing speech, Gillian Martin admitted: “I maybe don’t have the same political leanings as many of the farmers that come to my door and speak to me, or I meet at the Turriff Show and New Deer Show.
“I hope in some of the engagement I have had I have been able to represent you in Edinburgh, even though I know you might not vote for me.”
Following the event, Alexander Burnett, the Scottish Conservative candidate for Aberdeenshire West, said: “After 19 years of being in government, Gillian Martin’s remarks are an illustration of how badly the SNP have failed our farmers.
“It was clear from everyone in the room that farmers are fed up of being treated as second-class citizens by SNP politicians, who are wildly out of touch with the reality they face.
In Case You Missed it:
“For Gillian Martin to admit that she shares different beliefs to farmers exposes once again that the SNP are no friends of the farming industry.
“Even she knows her party has vilified farmers, whether that’s blaming them for greenhouse gas emissions, or rejecting almost 6,000 applications for the Future Farming Investment Scheme.
“That is why farmers should vote for the Scottish Conservatives at the upcoming Holyrood election to ensure rural communities have their voice heard in parliament.”
