The Tories believe they are on solid ground over benefitspublished at 12:27 GMT
12:27 GMT
Phil Sim
Scotland political correspondent
The big topic the Scottish Conservatives see as setting themselves
apart from other parties is the welfare system.
The SNP prides itself on having set up a more generous social
security safety net which is easier to navigate, and in their phrasing invests
more in the people of Scotland.
But Russell Findlay argues that it is too easy to
obtain benefits, and that the system needs to be cut back.
So the case of Sally Donald, dropped as an SNP candidate amid
headlines about benefit claims, is an absolute tap-in for the Tory leader –
especially given John Swinney was recently pictured at her adoption night in
Edinburgh.
Swinney stressed that an investigation is ongoing – and we should
note that Donald denies any wrongdoing – which he said is proof that the system
is working.
But the debate moved on pretty quickly to the broader issue, with
Findlay branding the welfare system “unaffordable, unfair and unsustainable”.
Swinney hit back calling the Tories the “nasty party” and saying
they want to take benefits away from the vulnerable.
The SNP will presumably have a new candidate for Edinburgh
Southern in place fairly quickly.
But this ideological dispute between the Tories and SNP about the
welfare system is an unbridgeable gap, and a row that will play out right
through the election campaign.