'WE are just a couple of weeks away from a General Election that is being branded by many as a “change election” where two distinct choices face the public.

Last week this was underlined by different manifesto choices made by both the Conservatives and the Labour Party. Mr Corbyn, and by extension Kezia Dugdale, have chosen the path of fantasyland economics with time machine-esque policies including un-costed plans to renationalise the railways and the Royal Mail.

By contrast the Conservatives have launched a comprehensive manifesto that will deliver real improvements for working people whilst refusing to duck the tough choices that ultimately have to be made in the coming years.

Whilst the Labour manifesto made scant reference to Scotland we have put policies to help our communities front and centre.

We have committed to protecting the winter fuel allowance for elderly residents which is a lifeline for many during our colder winters. For our farmers and fisherman, there is a commitment to deliver the best Brexit deal for them. Ensuring our producers are able to prosper again is of huge importance.

On education we have committed to a review of the Scottish Government's Curriculum for Excellence. We have listened to the education experts who tell us that whilst its broad principles are sound its implementation has been weak. Speak to any student who has sat a National 4 exam and they will tell you about its deficiencies in preparing them for the world outside the classroom. Therefore, better linkages between school and technical education is a must and a policy that the Scottish Conservatives strongly support. Unfortunately the Scottish Government does not.

Scotland's colleges have been left to wither on the branch as this SNP administration has stripped it of 152,000 places in order to support university students. This is not on, particularly at a time when we should be doing more to close the attainment gap.

And finally our stance on the prospect of a second Independence Referendum in the next 18 months is crystal clear in both the UK and Scottish manifestos. There are no ifs, no buts, no constitutional convention and no dithering on the question of Indyref 2. We believe that until the full extent of Brexit is known there can be no second referendum. Scottish voters would be going to the polls blind, with less information than in 2014 if a second vote was to be held in either 2018 or 2019. Scotland's communities are crying out for stability and an end to the constant constitutional navel gazing of the past two years. To avoid a return to the division of 2014, there is only one choice this June. One choice for your family, your children and your future and that is to vote Scottish Conservative.'