The tale of two governments
Boris Johnson has only ever been a symptom of a fundamentally broken Westminster system, which places elitism, entitlement and cronyism at its core.
And for all the talk of a “union of equals”, it’s a system that consistently imposes damaging policies against Scotland’s democratic will – whether it’s Brexit or austerity.
While the SNP Scottish Government is delivering progress and working to build a fairer country, Westminster control holds Scotland back.
It’s a tale of two governments – and here’s what it looks like.
Scotland keeps getting Tory governments we don’t vote for
Scotland hasn’t voted Tory in a Westminster general election since 1955, and yet we repeatedly get saddled with Tory Prime Ministers.
The youngest people who were able to vote in an election when Scotland voted Tory were born in 1934.
The Tory governments we don’t vote for have imposed damaging policies and made catastrophic decisions – from Thatcher’s poll tax, to Cameron’s brutal austerity and Johnson’s Brexit.
🏴 The Scottish Government was elected on a record high vote, with a clear mandate for #indyref2.
🇬🇧 Meanwhile, the next UK Prime Minister will be elected by 0.2% of the UK’s population – by a Tory party that Scotland hasn’t voted for since 1955. pic.twitter.com/fS2nQQtk59
— Yes (@YesScot) July 7, 2022
Litany of Tory sleaze, corruption and lies
From the start of Boris Johnson’s premiership, his government has been mired in scandal – attempting to block democracy with an illegal shutdown of Parliament, in order to avoid scrutiny over Brexit.
On Brexit, numerous promises have turned into dust – whether it’s the infamous £350m a week for the NHS, lower energy and food prices or stronger environmental standards.
During the pandemic, while people made sacrifices to save lives, the Tories handed out lucrative Covid contracts to their mates, lost billions to fraud, and held illegal parties at Downing Street.
Westminster is now in a permanent state of scandal, with Scotland paying the price.
While Boris Johnson is resigning, this damage is not limited to Boris Johnson – he is merely the symptom of a broken political system that elevates people like him into power.
🤷 Just 0.2% of the UK will choose a new Tory Prime Minister, yet they think that they can deny the democratic will of the people of Scotland.
🏴 @NicolaSturgeon: “Scotland needs a permanent alternative to Westminster, which is why the independence choice is so necessary.” pic.twitter.com/FYYlRa0fOT
— The SNP (@theSNP) July 7, 2022
Tories and Labour both back a damaging Brexit
Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU, and the SNP is now the only major party that continues to support Scotland’s place in Europe.
Labour have now become full supporters of Boris Johnson’s Brexit – as Keir Starmer categorically ruled out re-joining the EU, the single market or the customs union, or to bring back freedom of movement (which was one of Starmer’s key leadership pledges).
OBR research found that Brexit will hit the economy twice as bad as Covid, while exports are crumbling, inflation is soaring and businesses suffer from shortages.
But despite all that, Labour still back the damaging Brexit imposed by Boris Johnson.
🥀 In a desperate bid to win power, Labour has turned its back on the EU.
🏴 The only way for Scotland to rejoin the European family of nations is to become an independent country.
✏️ Pledge your support today at: https://t.co/LZLgRffbA0 pic.twitter.com/65Vq3YdVVI
— Yes (@YesScot) July 5, 2022
While Westminster self-destructs, the SNP deliver progress
As UK Tory governments continue to impose damaging policies against our will, the Scottish Government is choosing a different path – building a fairer country and delivering progress to every household in Scotland.
Despite limited resources and limited powers, here are just some of things we’ve achieved:
- A new social security system, which now delivers 12 benefits – 7 of which are unique within the UK
- The Scottish Child Payment – now doubled to £20 a week to tackle child poverty
- Record high investment in our NHS and record high staffing levels
- Free tuition – ensuring education is based on the ability to learn, not the ability to pay
- Transformative expansion of free early learning and childcare to 1,140 hours
- Free bus travel for under 22-s
- Over 100,000 affordable homes already delivered – with 70% of them for social rent
📢 With independence, we can build a fairer, wealthier and more equal Scotland. That is the prize.
🏴 Scotland deserves the very best, now and for the generations to come, only with the full powers of independence can we secure that future. pic.twitter.com/ysyXukmo1c
— The SNP (@theSNP) June 14, 2022
We could do so much more with independence
If all this – and much, much more – could be achieved against the backdrop of Westminster cuts and limited powers, imagine how much more we could do with the full powers of an independent country.
Independent countries of Scotland’s size, like Ireland, Denmark or Belgium, significantly outperform the UK on every measure.
🌍 For countries of Scotland’s size, independence works.
🏴 With the powers of independence, they built happier, fairer and wealthier societies than the UK – so #WhyNotScotland?
🗳️ That better country is within our grasp, but only you can make it happen. https://t.co/bkLETLnJTB pic.twitter.com/jxC7GIxbUJ
— Yes (@YesScot) June 14, 2022
They are happier, wealthier and fairer – and many of them lack the vast natural resources that Scotland has.
An independent Scotland – with governments it always vote for, instead of out-of-touch Westminster governments – has what it takes to be a successful, thriving European country, and Scotland will have that choice in an independence referendum.
If you haven’t already, pledge your support here, get involved in the campaign, and tell 5 friends and family to do the same.
🚨 BREAKING: First Minister @NicolaSturgeon Scotland’s independence referendum will be held on the 19th of October 2023.
🏴 The campaign is on! Join over half a million people and pledge your support for Scottish independence at https://t.co/2gUjKuELTC pic.twitter.com/YZGCdCCZRB
— Yes (@YesScot) June 28, 2022