At a rally for SNP supporters in Glasgow, Swinney, the recently elected party leader and first minister of Scotland – which will form a united kingdom of England, Wales and Northern Ireland – criticized the decisions taken by the central government in London. Scotland is “Brexit and the cost of living crisis”.
The government official noted that he would continue to support Scotland’s path to independence as a way of ensuring that decisions about the country are made in Scotland rather than in Westminster (London).
“A combination of cuts from Westminster and Brexit (Scotland rejected the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union in a 2016 referendum) has reduced money for the NHS (National Health Service), other public services and housing,” he said.
Describing Scotland as a “wonderful, diverse and inspiring place”, Swinney said “Brexit alone has wiped billions of pounds out of the Scottish economy”.
“These principles will guide my approach in these elections. So I urge you to vote SNP to get the Tories out of government. I urge people to vote SNP to put Scotland’s interests first,” he insisted.
Swinney was elected leader of the SNP and Scottish First Minister last month, following the resignation of Scottish Government leader Hamza Yousaf and the collapse of the coalition with the Green Party.
When the British Parliament was dissolved last week, the SNP won 43 of the 59 Scottish regional seats. The House of Commons (Central) of the Parliament of Westminster has a total of 650 seats.
The British Prime Minister, conservative Rishi Sunak, has called general elections for July 4 in the United Kingdom.
By law, the United Kingdom must hold legislative elections and elect a new parliament at least once every five years, but the exact date is determined by the head of government.
