THE SNP have been accused of “hypocrisy” and “double standards” after pictures of their campaign vans parked illegally emerged online.
The pictures were shared on Scotland’s Worst Drivers Facebook page and show various vehicles emblazoned with the SNP logo mounted on the kerb and parked on double yellow lines.
The images are all the more embarrassing as the SNP manifesto includes a promise to crack down on bad parking.
The manifesto reads: “We will bring forward a Transport Bill to improve bus services, enhance and improve the role of the Scottish Road Works Commissioner and wider road works regulation and to enable and enforce responsible parking.
The first image from April 26, shows the SNP MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, Christina McKelvie sitting in her campaign van whilst it’s mounted on a pavement.
The picture, taken in Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, shows a beaming Ms McKelvie leaning out from the passenger side of the vehicle whilst a team of campaigners pose next to it.
Another image taken on April 19 shows a white van adorned with a yellow SNP logo parked up on a pavement in Gilmerton Road in Edinburgh facing the wrong way down the road.
A similar photo taken a week earlier shows an SNP campaign van which has been left whilst bumped up onto the pavement and next to a bus stop.
In the final picture, a pick-up truck with an SNP billboard mounted on the back is parked illegally over double yellow lines.
A spokesman for Scotland’s Worst Drivers said: “It’s a little hypocritical to be make manifesto promises enforce responsible parking (which SWD fully support).
But to then break those promises before the election, by parking liveried vehicles on pavements for promotional purposes.”
Facebook users were outraged by the pictures and slammed SNP “hypocrisy” over the matter.
Greg McLean said: “Typical Scottish Nats do as I say not as I do. Bloody hypocrites!
Martin Gallagher echoed these sentiments, commenting: “SNP hypocrisy? Surely not!”
Lynsey McGovern agreed, saying: “typical SNP double standards.”
One user, Adam Scott, was particularly incensed by the parking.
He said: “Scotland’s worst political party on “Scotland’s worst drivers”, doesn’t surprise me.
“Vans should be towed away and scrapped for illegal parking. Would do Scotland a favour.”
An SNP spokesperson said: “”It’s important that all drivers park in a responsible manner and this has been made clear to our campaigners.”
It is currently an offence to drive on a pavement, though parking on a road next to a pavement is generally permitted where there are no restrictions.
Local authorities and the police have the power to remove a vehicle if it is illegally parked, causing an obstruction or has been abandoned.
Scots will take to the polls this Thursday to cast their vote in the Scottish Parliamentary election.
