NICOLA STURGEON has responded to Theresa May’s decision to call for a snap general election on June 8.
The First Minister took to Twitter to share her reaction to the announcement made this morning.
Sturgeon wrote: “The Tories see a chance to move the UK to the right, force through a hard Brexit and impose deeper cuts. Let’s stand up for Scotland.”
The SNP have since released a full statement from the party’s leader saying: “This announcement is one of the most extraordinary U-turns in recent political history, and it shows that Theresa May is once again putting the interests of her party ahead of those of the country.
“She is clearly betting that the Tories can win a bigger majority in England given the utter disarray in the Labour Party.
“That makes it all the important that Scotland is protected from a Tory Party which now sees the chance of grabbing control of government for many years to come and moving the UK further to the right — forcing through a hard Brexit and imposing deeper cuts in the process.
“That means that this will be — more than ever before — an election about standing up for Scotland, in the face of a right-wing, austerity obsessed Tory government with no mandate in Scotland but which now thinks it can do whatever it wants and get away with it.
“In terms of Scotland, this move is a huge political miscalculation by the Prime Minister.
“It will once again give people the opportunity to reject the Tories’ narrow, divisive agenda, as well as reinforcing the democratic mandate which already exists for giving the people of Scotland a choice on their future.
“The SNP will always put the people of Scotland first — and between now and June 8, we will work harder than ever to retain the trust of the people.”
SNP politicians on Twitter made clear that voters now faced a ‘straight choice’ between the SNP and Conservatives.
Deputy leader Angus Robertson tweeted: “Whatever happened to ‘now is not the time’? UK General Election: 8th June. Straight choice in Scotland between SNP and Tories. #VoteSNP”
Transport Minister Humza Yousaf tweeted: “The SNP Vs The Tories – it’s a straight choice between the two. Over to you Scotland.”
READ MORE FROM THE SUNDAY POST
Scottish Party leaders respond to snap General Election announcement
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