SNP in ‘step too far’ with pack targeting mock school elections

THE SNP is renowned for an iron discipline associated with its party organisation, but it was accused of taking a step “too far” after it launched a campaign pack targeting young Scots standing in school mock elections that tells them how to promote the party to other pupils.

In a pack that begins with a page long foreword from Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister talks about the “remarkable journey” of the Nationalists.

For decades, schools across Scotland have held mock elections whenever the country goes to the polls, with pupils standing as party candidates in what are viewed as educational exercises.

However, SNP chiefs at the party’s HQ have produced the “school election campaign pack” targeting the mock elections.

The glossy pack tells pupils to be aware that SNP has been “the driving force for change in Scotland for over 80 years” and offers to send campaign literature to help run school-based campaigns.

It tells pupils to “let us know you are taking part in a school election” and asks for contact details for those standing for the SNP.

SNP teen hopefuls are also urged to make sure they know about the policies of “opponents and be prepared to say why yours work better”.

Scottish Labour spokeswoman Jenny Marra said: “This campaign pack crosses the line far too far. It’s supposed to be about a school mock election but is basically a training pack about how to be an activist for the SNP.”