Campaign round-up 21 April 2021 shetnews.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from shetnews.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Labour and LibDem politicians are amongst more than 20 initial signatories to a new non-cooperation pledge. The Right to Stay campaign is warning settled status rules established by Westminster could see thousands of EU migrants in Scotland being criminalised or deported. Serving and former cabinet ministers have joined the drive, including Ben Macpherson and Shona Robison. More Holyrood election candidates are now expected to add their names to a declaration which aims to ensure Scottish institutions are not used as Home Office border guards. It s feared trusted public bodies could be used to gather data and report on individuals, going beyond their remit in health, housing or other matters.
Mr Wightman citing concerns over “intolerance” of some party members over the transgender debate in quitting the Greens.
He said at the time of announcing his election plans: “It is very hard to be elected as an independent candidate. I will need 12-15,000 votes across the Highlands and Islands.
Independent candidate Andy Wightman. Picture: Jon Savage
“I will be relying on a grassroots campaign of supporters who are able to mobilise voters by word of mouth and social media.”
Three other incumbent MSPs will also appear on the hustings.
Conservatives MSP Edward Mountain, Labour’s Rhoda Grant and the SNP’s Maree Todd are also confirmed as hustings participants.
SNP candidate Tom Wills claims his partyâs manifesto is âpacked full of measures that will benefit Shetlandâ.
He highlighted commitments such as free music lessons in schools, investment in the recovery of tourism from the pandemic and a £20 million rural entrepreneur fund as examples which will have âspecial valueâ to Shetland.
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The SNP also pledge to invest more in schools, mental health services and the NHS frontline.
âPutting our manifesto into practice is going to be a lot of work, and we need everyoneâs support to get it off the ground. Every vote counts,â Wills said.
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Today on Election Hub Live we had the first of our big party leader interviews, with Courier editor David Clegg sitting down with Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie.
Among the topics the pair discussed was Scottish independence, with Mr Rennie saying there are no reasonable circumstances for a second independence referendum.
Every day this week we will be hearing from Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie.
Maurice Golden from the Scottish Conservatives also joined us live to talk about his party’s official manifesto launch.