Former First Minister Alex Salmond has been accused of trying to rewrite history by telling “blatant untruths” in a campaign leaflet.
Christine Jardine, who is attempting to hold the Aberdeenshire seat of Gordon for the Liberal Democrats, claimed the he was trying to take credit for two key policies the SNP did not introduce.
The MSP for Aberdeenshire East, who hopes to win the seat next week, said in the leaflet: “I am immensely proud of the SNP’s record in government when it comes to standing up for our pensioners.
“We have led the way with bus passes and free personal care.”
Ms Jardine said both policies were introduced by the Labour\Liberal Democrat Scottish Executive which was in power between 1999-2007.
She added that Mr Salmond was not even a member of the Scottish Parliament when free personal care for the elderly and free bus passes were introduced in 2002 and 2006 respectively.
Ms Jardine said: “Experience has taught us that Alex Salmond sometimes has problems remembering the fine detail of the actualite, but, even by his standards, these are blatant untruths.
“It’s typical of the SNP’s attempts to rewrite history but I’m confident that voters in Gordon will see past these false claims.”
Mr Salmond dismissed the criticism as “a lot of nonsense”.
“The SNP defended the free bus pass and free personal care throughout my term in office despite swingeing cuts from Westminster,” he said.
“The opposition parties in the Scottish Parliament told us it could not be done but the SNP sustained these policies as well as freezing council tax, abolishing tuition fees and introducing free prescriptions.
“No wonder that support for the SNP is flourishing in Gordon while support for the Liberals is disappearing faster than the April snow.”