HUMZA Yousaf has been criticised by the Alba Party after he failed to mention Scottish independence in the most recent SNP party political broadcast.
Alex Salmond's party questioned the SNP’s commitment to putting self-determination front and centre of its General Election campaign as they have routinely pledged by stating independence will be on “page one, line one” of their party’s manifesto.
The five-minute broadcast which has aired on STV and BBC failed to mention independence, and featured actors speaking about various policies being delivered by the Scottish Parliament and the effect they have had on their lives.
At the end of the broadcast, First Minister and SNP leader Yousaf urged Scots to vote for the SNP at the General Election to protect the policies.
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Policies mentioned include free baby boxes, the Scottish Child Payment, free school meals, free nursery care, free prescriptions, free personal care, free university tuition and free period products.
Alba Party’s general secretary Chris McEleny said the SNP’s broadcast is “indicative of a strategy that aims to deceive by speaking about independence only to SNP members but failing to campaign publicly on the issue.”
McEleny said: “It is disappointing that the SNP have decided not to campaign for independence at the General Election. Alba Party called on the independence movement to move forward with a Scotland United approach but sadly the SNP have opted to go it alone.
"Bizarrely, with independence sitting on about 50% the SNP have opted to campaign on their record in Government- which has been waning for several years.
“Alba are now the only party that have a viable strategy for the General Election and we are the only party with a credible strategy to move the independence movement forward - as Ash Regan MSP set out with her plan for a Referendum Bill to be progressed in Holyrood.
"The SNP might not want to talk about independence in the upcoming General Election campaign, but Alba Party will ensure people have the option to vote for it.”
An SNP spokesperson said: “The SNP party political broadcast shows the positive impact the SNP is having on the lives of people across Scotland and how we can build a better future as an independent country, when all of the decisions about Scotland are taken in Scotland.”
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