VOTE SNP and help deliver independence. That was the exclusive message sent direct to National readers from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last night.
She told us that this election would be the most important in Scotland’s history – and that the future of the country was at stake.
Writing a special election day message for readers and subscribers of The National, she called on the Yes movement to give both votes to the SNP today.
“The last year has been the toughest most of us have known – but we are now on the road to recovery,” she said. “The question is who should be in the driving seat, shaping that recovery – those of us who live in Scotland or a Westminster Tory Government led by Boris Johnson?
“Those of us who believe passionately in the need for independence know the answer to that all too clearly. But we need to be in a position to offer our fellow citizens the choice of independence, while continuing the work of persuading those who remain to be convinced.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon: A vote for the SNP is a chance to decide Scotland’s future
“And the only certain way to ensure an SNP Government is re-elected and in a position to deliver a referendum is to give both votes to the SNP today.
“Boris Johnson knows he will not be able to block a referendum in the face of a democratic mandate for one.
“So to all those who believe in independence and are determined, as I am, to help deliver it, give both votes to the SNP today and put Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands.”
Earlier, the SNP leader urged voters to get behind her party in the “historic election” to help steer the nation safely through the pandemic and into a better future following a traumatic year.
She warned that “every vote can make a difference” as she pledged that if re-elected as First Minister she would be “straight back” to her desk to tackle the ongoing health and economic crisis caused by Covid.
The SNP are on course for a record fourth term in government in Edinburgh, with polls diverging on whether the party will be in a position to form a majority or minority administration.
“Today’s election is the most important in the history of the Scottish Parliament. After a year of unprecedented challenge for all of us, the country needs experienced leadership to take Scotland through the pandemic – and only the SNP are offering a serious programme for government to keep Scotland safe and into a recovery,” she told voters.
“Polls show that, when it comes to the balance of the new parliament, the result is on a knife-edge – and in a close election, every vote can make the difference.
“If I am re-elected First Minister, I guarantee I’ll be back at my desk straight away tackling the pandemic.”
READ MORE: Scottish election: SNP and Greens set for historic election success
She added: “We will get to work on our plans to help the NHS remobilise and agree a pay rise for NHS staff, expand free childcare and free school meals, help our young people into jobs and opportunities and much more within just 100 days.
“We will also start work on longer-term challenges, establishing a new Council for Economic Transformation, taking the first steps toward establishing a National Care Service and beginning work on a minimum income guarantee.
“And when the Covid crisis has passed, we will give the people of Scotland the opportunity to decide if they want the recovery to be in the hands of the likes of Boris Johnson and the austerity-driven Tories, or to put Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands with independence.
“Despite the challenges of the last year, we should be optimistic about Scotland’s future – and with the right leadership I know that we have the natural resources and human talent to deliver the fairer, greener and more prosperous Scotland that we all want to see. I’m asking people to give both votes to the SNP today to help elect an experienced government with the serious plan to lead Scotland through the pandemic and into a brighter future.”
The final poll published by Ipsos Mori yesterday put the SNP on course for an overall majority, though another survey hours earlier claimed it could lose up to six seats. The Ipsos Mori poll, for STV News, projects Sturgeon’s party could take 68 seats, a majority of three, picking up 50% of the vote in constituencies and 39% in the regional list.
But 12% of the 1502 people asked said they could still change their vote ahead of polls opening today.
Ipsos Mori Scotland managing director Emily Gray (below) said a majority for the SNP “hangs in the balance”, adding: “The election result may come down to how the parties perform in a small number of key marginal seats, as well as in the regional vote, which is likely to prove particularly important in determining which party is in second place.
“With a relatively high percentage of voters still saying they’ve not definitely decided, all the parties still have something to play for tomorrow.”
The poll has the Tories and Labour both losing seats, dropping to 27 and 19 respectively, while the Greens will jump to 11 seats and the LibDems will lose one, ending on four. Believed to be the final poll released before voters cast their ballots, the STV News survey came after two others were published earlier yesterday.
All three differently predicted the fates of most parties, with the SNP set to win 68 seats according to the Ipsos Mori survey, 66 seats in another by Survation for The Courier, and a drop to 59 in Savanta ComRes’s final outing in The Scotsman.
The differences in polling will no doubt fuel speculation before the final results are announced tomorrow and Saturday.
On Scottish independence, polling has continued the trend of hovering around the 50% mark for each side, with the Ipsos Mori study evenly split.
Survation suggests the Yes side is lagging behind on 48%, while it is on 46% according to Savanta ComRes.
The campaign has been dominated by Scotland’s constitutional future, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson again reiterating his opposition to a second independence referendum.
READ MORE: Latest Holyrood election poll predicts SNP will win majority
Johnson said a new vote would be “reckless and irresponsible”.
The Prime Minister – who has not visited Scotland in the run-up to the election – was questioned on the issue as he campaigned for local elections in England in Stourbridge, the West Midlands, where he took a bike ride along a canal.
Asked if he would allow another referendum to take place if Scots elect a majority of MSPs from independence supporting parties, Johnson said: “Let’s wait and see what actually happens.
“I think that most people in Scotland, most people around the whole of the UK, feel that this is not the time, as we’re coming forward out of a pandemic together, this is not the time to have a reckless, and I think irresponsible, second referendum.”
Referring to the 2014 vote, he said there had been a ballot on the issue “only a few years ago”.
The Prime Minister insisted: “I think what most people want is to focus on the country and taking it forward and rebuilding our economy and getting people into work. That seems to me to be the priority.”
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