Parties set out stalls on last day of council campaign

Scotland’s political parties have been setting out their plans for local government in a last attempt to persuade voters to back them ahead of the elections tomorrow.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has said her party will “stand firm against the Tories”, focusing the campaign on tackling the cost-of-living crisis.

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, meanwhile, accused the SNP of being “too distracted by their nationalist interests” to deliver on local needs.

Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour leader, has said both the Conservatives and SNP have run “out-of-touch- governments” but his candidates will be “local champions”.

Green co-leader Lorna Slater said climate change and public transport would be a focus for councillors from her party.

And Scottish Lib Dems' Alex Cole-Hamilton says his party offers "new hope" after the pandemic and constitutional arguments. 

Polls open at 7am on Thursday, closing at 10pm.

Thousands of votes have already been cast by those who opted for a postal vote.

The results will be announced over Friday and Saturday, with 1,227 councillors to be elected across the 32 local authorities.

All the party leaders will be campaigning in Edinburgh today, ahead of an early First Minister’s Questions as parliament is closed tomorrow.

The First Minister said: “The Tories have run out of excuses for their negligent inaction on their self-made cost of living crisis that is hammering families across Scotland… Every SNP councillor elected this week will stand firm against the Tories, ready to lock them out of power. Our priority will be supporting families through the cost-of-living crisis.”

Douglas Ross said: “This election is about improving local services, restoring local schools, cleaning up local streets, fixing local roads and investing in communities… If pro-UK voters unite, just like last year, we can beat the SNP and deliver on those local priorities.”

Anas Sarwar said: “Scottish Labour has a plan to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and bring our country together… At this election you can choose more division and decline with the SNP and the Tories – or you can demand more action with Labour.”

Lorna Slater said: “Even one or two Green councillors could be in a position to hold the balance of power and will be crucial in delivering the things we are securing in government, like record investment in nature restoration, recycling and active travel, and the biggest teacher recruitment drive in 15 years.”

Alex Cole-Hamilton said: "My party has used this campaign to talk about solutions for the cost-of-living crisis: insulating homes, a VAT cut worth £600, a Robin Hood Tax on the energy companies making super profits and the reversal of SNP/Green rail and tax hikes."