John Swinney: No UK Government has deserved to lose more than Rishi Sunak’s

No government has deserved to lose more than Rishi Sunak’s, John Swinney has said, as he marked the SNP’s first campaign event since the Prime Minister called a snap election.

The First Minister said his party could still win in Scotland despite polling suggesting it could come second to a resurgent Labour.

The fledgling leader said he was “relishing the opportunity” to fight a campaign of “hope and unity” in the coming weeks.

Sunak announced on Wednesday that the UK general election will take place on July 4 as he delivered a speech at late notice outside a rainy Downing Street.

Rishi Sunak announced on Wednesday that the general election will be held on July 4. Getty Images

Speaking on Thursday, Swinney vowed to listen to Scots to win their votes at the ballot box.

“Most of you want to see the back of this disastrous Tory government,” he said.

“Never has a Government deserved to lose more than Rishi Sunak’s.”

Scots, he said, want “higher living standards”, a country where people can “lead secure, happy, healthy lives”, as well as a “National Health Service you can rely on”, and they think Brexit was a “terrible mistake”.

He said that while Labour and the Tories would attack each other, the SNP would “put Scotland first”.

“For those who are already persuaded, I can’t stress enough how important it is to vote SNP on July 4,” he said.

“We will win our country’s independence and win the powers to bring about a better Scotland through democratic pressure.

“On July 4 – Independence Day – make sure your voice is heard.”

The First Minister said the SNP could still beat Anas Sarwar's Labour Party in Scotland despite current polling. — The First Minister said the SNP could still beat Anas Sarwar’s Labour Party in Scotland despite current polling.

He added: “On that issue of making Scotland’s voice heard, the SNP will always fight to further Scotland’s interests under any constitutional circumstances: Put simply – we put Scotland first.”

He said both Labour and the Tories would be going “hammer and tongs to discredit each other” over the next six weeks.

“I’ll also be going hammer and tongs,” he said, “not against anyone but I’ll be going hammer and tongs to put Scotland first.”

He said that was what “SNP MPs always do at Westminster”, adding it was “in our DNA”.

Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, he said, along with his MPs, “do that job every week with real passion and commitment”.

Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy said: “The independence-obsessed SNP always put their own interests before Scotland’s – which is made crystal clear by them putting their obsessive bid to break up the UK on page one, line one of their election manifesto.

“John Swinney proved that point again today by shamefully backing his disgraced SNP colleague Michael Matheson instead of removing the party whip from him.

“The SNP are ignoring the public’s real priorities – fixing our ailing public services and growing the economy – to focus relentlessly on their divisive independence fixation.

“In key seats across Scotland, only the Scottish Conservatives can beat the scandal-ridden SNP and get the focus back on the issues that really matter.”