Ruth Davidson today wrote for the P&J, here is what the leader of the Scottish Conservatives said.
Scotland needs a strong opposition that is able to properly hold the government to account.
The Scottish Labour party has had nine years, six leaders and numerous chances to try, and hasn’t really laid a glove on the SNP.
The SNP feels under no pressure at all and thinks it can get away with passing bad laws like Named Person or breaking promises across the board.
That’s one of the reasons the P&J’s report card on the SNPs record is so important.
It shows where the Scottish Government has let people down – in health, education, policing and transport.
Scottish education is slipping down the international league tables, our economy isn’t growing in the way we would like, our hospital waiting times for A&E are still too high and the single police force, which simply shipped the Strathclyde model all other parts of Scotland has left people feeling like they’ve lost their local force.
That’s why I’m asking people in this election to use at least one of their two votes to vote for a strong opposition.
One that can really hold the government to account.
Me and my Scottish Conservative team will challenge and scrutinise and pressure future governments so never again will they feel that they’ve got a free run, or can spend more time planning a second independence referendum, rather than get on with the job we pay them for; running the country.
A good opposition can make a government better. It keeps it on its toes and makes sure that it really answers to the people of this country.
If, in three weeks’ time, I am returned as the leader of the official opposition, that’s exactly what I’ll do.
I’ll make sure the SNP doesn’t have everything its own way – I’ll question, I’ll challenge, I’ll put them under pressure and, crucially, I’ll make positive suggestions for how this country can work
better.
At this election, a strong opposition is possible. You just have to vote for it.