Opposition to independence referendum central to Tories’ council election manifesto

Ruth Davidson - Image credit: Press Association

The Tories manifesto for the forthcoming council elections will focus on opposition to a second independence referendum – even though councils have no say in that.

The Scottish Conservatives will launch their manifesto for the next month’s local government elections this morning.

Entitled 'Localism for Growth', it will set out the party's plans to oppose a second referendum on independence and to reverse centralisation by the SNP government.

RELATED CONTENT

Council elections 2017: The SNP

Council elections 2017: Scottish Labour

Council elections 2017: The Scottish Green Party

Council elections 2017: Scottish Liberal Democrats

Commenting on the launch, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said: "The council elections are a chance for people to make clear the priorities they want in Scotland.

"It's to ensure we have local councils focused on your school and your local services, not on a divisive referendum campaign most people don't want.

"We have two key points to make at this election. After ten years of SNP centralisation, we want to make the case for localism - so decisions are put back in the hands of your local community.

"And, after a decade of constitutional division, we want to send a message to the SNP: we don't want your unwanted independence referendum.

"Every Scottish Conservative councillor who is elected on May 4th will demand nothing less."

Local government spokesman Graham Simpson added: “Scotland is fast becoming one of the most centralised countries in the western world.

"The SNP government reserves for itself the right to make the vast majority of economic decisions, so local authorities have been relegated to mere service providers.

"We need to empower councils and give them a renewed sense of meaning and purpose. They can and must be the engines of growth”.