The leaders of the battling SNP and Conservatives have accused each other of “ignoring the north-east” just days before voters go to the polls.
Tory leader Ruth Davidson last night blamed the SNP for “ten years of failings” in the region as the party released a dossier of alleged failures.
Speaking exclusively to the Press and Journal, Ms Davidson said the nationalists had “taken their eye off the ball” in the north-east which has in the past been considered heartland territory.
But First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who is in the Granite City today for an oil and gas conference, said it was the Conservatives who had given the north-east the “lowest priority”.
With the Tories threatening in a number of seats in the region including Aberdeen South, Banff and Buchan, West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine and Moray, the party have published their dossier on a number of themes.
According to the research, businesses in Aberdeen have seen their total business rates bill triple since the SNP took power in Holyrood in 2007.
The findings also show there is a £35million gap between what is raised by north-east local authorities in council tax and the money that comes back from Edinburgh.
And on education, just 24% of pupils in Aberdeen are meeting the expected level in reading by age 13-14, 20% in writing and 21% in reading and talking, it says.
Ms Davidson said: “It has been clear for some time now that the SNP has taken its eye off the ball in the north-east.
“Our team of MSPs fought tooth and nail for action to curb business rates rises – without that, I don’t think we would have seen any action from the finance secretary.
“The growing sense of frustration with the SNP was highlighted further with the surge in support for the Scottish Conservatives in the council elections in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray.
“It could not be more clear that only Scottish Conservatives have the strength to take on the SNP in these north-east seats and stop Nicola Sturgeon’s plans for a second referendum.
“A vote for any other party in this election in Moray, Banff and Buchan, Gordon, West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine and Aberdeen South will be a wasted vote.”
But SNP leader Ms Sturgeon pointed the finger of blame at the Tories in Westminster and called for more economic powers to be devolved to Holyrood to allow the party to invest in the north-east.
The nationalists argue that they have invested heavily in the the area – pointing to infrastructure projects such as the £6billion AWPR, and securing the Aberdeen City Region Deal.
Ms Sturgeon said that full devolution of economic powers, including on taxation and immigration, would allow the SNP to prioritise investment across the north- east.
Ms Sturgeon said: “Since 2010, the north- east of Scotland has been the lowest priority for the UK Tory government.
“They have utterly failed to invest in communities and to support industries that provide local jobs and economic growth – whether that is oil and gas, renewables, farming or across the business sector.
“It stands in stark contrast to the active approach the Scottish Government has been taking in supporting the north- east economy – from supporting the oil and gas sector and workers across the energy industry, investing an additional £254 million in the Aberdeen City Region Deal, which the Tories failed to match, and investing heavily in infrastructure, from the proposed new trauma centre to the £6billion AWPR.
“By fully devolving powers over all areas of the economy to Scotland, the Scottish Government could take an approach that prioritises investment in the north-east and ensure that the area gets the support it needs – on energy, business and our rural economy.”