We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP have been criticised by some in Scotland for the SNP’s domestic record. Tory MP Andrew Bridgen told Express.co.uk that the Scottish First Minister “can’t hide” from her failings, but claimed they were not getting the necessary scrutiny. He said: “It’s an appalling record. The SNP are a one trick pony that want independence, but the schools and health services in Scotland are dropping down the world rankings table every year. “The SNP are not being held to account for their domestic policy failings on those huge issues – the same goes for policing.

“These issues impact on people’s lives.”

He also hit out at Ms Sturgeon’s handling of the coronavirus.

He added: “I think in the cold light of analysis after the pandemic is over, I think we will find the people of Scotland have been served badly by her policies relative to the rest of the UK.”

Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party, Jackson Carlaw, listed a number of shortcomings last December as he looked to challenge the SNP.

He said: “As we enter 2020, we’ve seen PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) figures show science and maths performance at record lows, violent crime going up for the fourth year in a row, NHS Greater Glasgow suing the construction firm which built our largest hospital, commissioned by Nicola Sturgeon.

“And embarrassing failures in public transport on sea and rail. Some might even say that it is unarguable that every public service in the care of this SNP government ends 2019 in a worst state that when the year began. Surely in 2020, fixing this should be the priority of any government worthy of the name.”

Ms Sturgeon hit back at her Tory counterpart, claiming she was trying to tackle these issues day in, day out.

The SNP leader added: “These are my priorities day in and day out, and I don’t run from the record of my government.

“I put that record before the Scottish people in an election last week and let me remind Jackson Carlaw what happened – the SNP won that election comprehensively and the Tories lost it just as comprehensively.

“All these tired lines were rejected by the electorate just last week, which is why in 2020 I’ll get on with the job of improving our public services, of making sure that Scotland’s public services continue to perform better than they do under the Tories in England and under Labour in Wales.

“By contrast, I’m going to predict the Tories are going to spend at least part of 2020 electing a new leader.”

In his interview with Express.co.uk, Mr Bridgen also claimed Ms Sturgeon’s plans to make Scotland an independent country were a “pipe dream”.

He said: “The reason the SNP have been so against Brexit is that they realise an independent UK out of the EU with trade deals around the world is the end of any hope for Scottish independence.

DON’T MISS
Nicola Sturgeon fury: First Minister’s bid to join EU will ‘kill SNP’ [INSIGHT]
Brexit outrage: How EU plotted to ‘use Nicola Sturgeon to hurt UK’ [ANALYSIS]
Sturgeon’s dream ruined as Scottish independence dubbed ‘catastrophe’ [INSIGHT]

“Because if they left the union, they’d have no trade deals, they wouldn’t be in the EU and they haven’t got the pound.

“The impact on their economy would be devastating, and they have an eight percent budget deficit without subsidies from England.

“Oil prices are on the floor too, so their plan to build the economy on that is a pipe dream.”

Source: Read Full Article