Nicola Sturgeon: Only SNP will stand up for the north-east

Only the SNP will stand up for the north-east, Nicola Sturgeon said on a campaign visit to Stonehaven.

“When our oil and gas sector needed a champion amid the industry downturn, it was SNP MPs who forced the Tories to offer the industry some – albeit limited and overdue – support,” she said.

“When the north-east needed investment through a city deal, it was the SNP in government who stumped up three quarters of the money – with the Tories short-changing Aberdeen.

“And with the Brexit negotiations looming, only SNP MPs will stand up to support the jobs that depend on trade with our European partners, in industries as diverse as renewables and fisheries.”

Ms Sturgeon said voting Labour “risks inadvertently letting Tory MPs in by the back door.

“This comes just weeks after we saw the Labour group on Aberdeen City Council using Labour votes to give Aberdeen a Tory council.”

The candidates in West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine are Stuart Donaldson (SNP), Barry Black (Labour) Andrew Bowie (Conservative) and John Waddell (Lib Dem).