SNP Chief Keith Brown Hails 12,500 Extra Members in March

Party Announces Post-Election Summer Conference
SNP campaign director Keith Brown says the party’s 12,500 new members that have joined this month shows the SNP is ‘fighting fit’ as it goes into the election campaign.

By month end, the SNP is on track to match in new members the total Scottish Labour membership of 16,467, four times the Scottish LibDems membership (4,085) and more than double the Scottish Greens membership (6,412). The Scottish Tories refuse to say how low their membership has sunk.

Mr Brown also announced that the party’s NEC has today agreed to hold a summer conference.

And this weekend the SNP will be asking members and supporters to share the Bairns not Bombs digital campaign leaflet which contrasts the differing priorities of the SNP led by Nicola Sturgeon with Boris Johnson’s Tory Government.

He said:

“We are a party and a movement powered by our mass membership.

“The fact we’ve had 12,500 new members sign up this month is a massive boost as the election nears.

“Our new members' input at the summer conference - that NEC has confirmed today - will be invaluable as we drive the case for independence forwards.

"At the coming election, the SNP offers a safe, steady, and experienced hand to steer Scotland’s recovery from the pandemic.

"And we'll offer a better, fairer, more prosperous future for our country with a post-pandemic referendum.

"The choices about Scotland’s future will be in Scotland’s hands - and not those of a bumbling Tory PM.

“Boris Johnson and his Tory cronies don’t care about Scotland. Their priorities are all wrong.

“While they are wasting hundreds of billions of our money on more nuclear weapons, we are focused on giving Scotland’s young people the best start.

“With the baby box, the child payment, more free hours of childcare, free school meals and no tuition fees it is clear to see the SNP's priorities are bairns, not bombs.”

Polling Analysis Shows SNP in Pole Position

An end of year review of polling shows the SNP would be in pole position in Scotland for a snap Westminster election – with surveys suggesting the SNP would gain seats, while the Tories and Labour would fall behind.

In the 22 opinion polls on Westminster voting intentions in Scotland since the 2017 general election, the SNP has topped every poll - with support for the party increasing in 82% of the polls. On average, the SNP vote is up 1.5 percentage points (to 38.4%), while support for the Tories has fallen by 2.8 percentage points (to 25.8%), and support for Labour has fallen by 1.1 percentage points (to 26.0%).

The analysis makes bleak reading for the Tories, who have fallen back from their 2017 election result in every single poll since, and for Labour who have fallen back in 73% of the polls.

Polling analysis has also revealed growing support for independence in Scotland. Of the 93 opinion polls on independence since the 2014 referendum, support for independence has increased in 85% of polls. On average, support for independence is up 2.7 percentage points (to 47.4%).

The last poll of 2018 showed support for independence at a two-year high. The Panelbase poll for the Sunday Times (Sample: 1,028 adults; Fieldwork: 30 Nov – 5 Dec 2018) put support for independence at 47%, and found a majority of Scots would back independence over both a No Deal Brexit (59%) and the Bad Deal scenario negotiated by the Prime Minister (53%).

Commenting SNP Depute Leader, Keith Brown MSP, said:

“These polls show that people are continuing to put their trust in the SNP to stand up for Scotland.

“Should there be a snap Westminster election in 2019, the SNP would be in pole position to gain seats – with the Tories and Labour both falling behind.

“It is no surprise that support for the Westminster parties is collapsing, when both Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn are utterly obsessed about dragging Scotland over the Brexit cliff edge against our will.

“Polls show a majority of Scots support independence over a No Deal Brexit or Theresa May’s bad deal Brexit. It’s time the UK government and Labour opposition stopped sidelining Scotland’s interests and backed a second EU referendum with the option of remaining in the EU.

“The Tories are consumed by the complete and utter chaos of Brexit, and Labour have given up any pretence of being a credible alternative - by backing Tory plans to leave the EU, despite the huge damage it would do to Scottish jobs, living standards and the economy.

“As we hurtle ever closer towards Brexit, the SNP will continue to stand up to the Tories and fight for what’s best for Scotland’s future.”

Record high in Scottish employment

Unemployment and inactivity falls over the quarter
More people in Scotland are in work as the latest jobs figures show an increase in employment to a record high and a fall in inactivity.

Scotland’s employment rate increased by 1.1 percentage points to 75.2% over the quarter, meaning 30,000 more people in employment, according to the Labour Market Statistics for April to June published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). There are now 2,650,000 people in employment in Scotland - 86,000 more than the pre-recession peak and above the UK rate.

Over the quarter, the inactivity rate fell 0.7 percentage points to 21.8%. The unemployment rate fell over the quarter to 3.9%, below the UK figure of 4.4%

Economy Secretary Keith Brown said:

“These latest figures show continued resilience in our labour market with 30,000 more people in work compared with this time last year and the unemployment rate falling by 1.2 percentage points over the year. The employment rate has risen to 75.2%, its highest on record, with more people in employment than ever before, while the unemployment rate of 3.9% is close to record lows.

“This is a further vote of confidence in our economy, coming after GDP figures showing Scotland’s growth rate was four times faster that of the UK over the last quarter, and recent reports of accelerating growth across the private sector.

“It is also encouraging to see that we continue to perform strongly in female participation, with the female unemployment rate falling by 0.9 percentage points over the year to 3.6%. Scotland’s female unemployment rate continues to be lower than the UK rate. Youth unemployment has fallen from 14.6% since 2007 and now stands at 8.4%, and is now among the lowest of all EU countries.

“These figures are encouraging but there is much still to do. A hard Brexit would cost our economy up to £11 billion a year from 2030, and 80,000 jobs over a decade. The Scottish Government will continue to do all that we can with the powers available to us to grow our economy, protecting and creating jobs.”

SNP Take Control Of Clackmannanshire Council

EARLY BOOST IN ELECTION YEAR
The SNP today took on the leadership of Clackmannanshire Council after a vote of no confidence removed the Labour administration.

Clackmannanshire becomes the 11th council to be led by the SNP and the 13th council in Scotland with the SNP in administration giving the party an early boost in election year. In contrast Labour now has a role in only 9 local authorities.

The no confidence vote followed concerns over Labour’s management of finances at Clackmannanshire and continued criticism of care services for children in Clackmannanshire. The no confidence vote was supported by an independent councillor and a former member of the Labour administration.

The SNP will now form the administration of Clackmannanshire Council under the leadership of Cllr Gary Womersley with fellow SNP Cllr Tina Murphy as Provost.

Speaking after votes in the council saw him elected as Council Leader Cllr Womersley said:

“This is a good step forward for Clackmannanshire and a new start for Clackmannanshire council.

“As Council leader I and the SNP will be working hard to deliver for the people of Clackmannanshire.

“We have been let down by Labour over the last four years. Over the next few months people in Clackmannanshire will see the kind of positive and constructive administration the SNP can bring.”

Local MSP Keith Brown offered his congratulations to the new group:

"Congratulations to Gary Womersley and the SNP Councillors who will now form the new administration.

"This is a new start for a new year and I look forward to working with the new SNP administration to move Clackmannanshire forward.”

Local Government Minister and SNP Business Convener Derek MacKay welcomed the new administration.

“This is a great start to the New Year for Clackmannanshire and for the SNP.

“Since the elections in May 2007 the SNP has moved into the administration of Dundee, Stirling and now Clackmannanshire as Labour has been displaced.

“And across the country the SNP is now in administration in 13 local authorities compared to only nine with any role for Labour.

“For Labour to lose control of the council at the beginning of local election year is a sign that they continue to lose the support of people across the country.

“In contrast the SNP continues to win support with the election of nine new SNP councillors over the last year in by-elections across the country.

“And only last week all 32 local authorities gave their backing to the SNP Government’s commitment to freeze the council tax in the coming year , to protect teacher numbers and maintain 1000 extra police on our streets.

“In the run up to May’s local elections the SNP will be campaigning hard to show people that working together at every level we can deliver local government that will make our communities better and help all of us to take Scotland forward.”

Notes:

1. The SNP is now part of the administration in Aberdeen, City of Edinburgh, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, East Ayrshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire, Stirling, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian. 
2. The SNP leads 11 of the 13 councils either as minority or lead partner in a coalition and is the junior partner in Edinburgh and East Renfrewshire.