Thursday April 16th 2026
Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Keith Cockburn
Written by Midlothian View Editor, Phil Bowen
Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Keith Cockburn, has hailed new plans by the party that they say could save working families over £12,000 per year.
He has highlighted a series of measures announced by leader Russell Findlay that they say would dramatically reduce bills for families in Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale.
They include:
– Tax cuts that would save parents on the median full-time salary £2,346 between them
– A £300 reduction in energy bills through Kemi Badenoch’s Cheap Power Plan and the Scottish Conservatives’ plan to give households a discount by using ScotWind funds
– An estimated £200 annual council tax rebate from the Scottish Government underspend
– Expanding 30 hours a week of funded childcare to those with children from nine months onwards, saving an estimated £9,379 for those affected.
Mr Cockburn says “this shows the Scottish Conservatives are on the side of aspirational people in South Scotland who have been hammered by high taxes and rising bills under the SNP.”
He added that this would be paid for by reining in the SNP’s “ballooning” benefits bill and cutting wasteful spending.
Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate Keith Cockburn said:
“The Scottish Conservatives are on the side of hard-working families in Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale.
“Our bold new plans would save them thousands of pounds a year. We are determined to reverse the damage caused by ever-rising taxes under John Swinney and the SNP.
“The Scottish Conservatives’ credible and fully costed plans would bring down income tax bills, reduce energy bills and deliver an annual payment of around £200 each year to every household in South Scotland by refunding money the Scottish Government doesn’t spend.
“And for those with children under three, our expansion of funded childcare would save working parents in Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale over £9,000.
“While John Swinney refuses to rule out more tax rises to pay for his ballooning benefits bill, we want to cut people’s taxes and reduce wasteful spending.
“If people in Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale want to see hard work rewarded, then they should vote for me on their lilac ballot paper and for the Scottish Conservatives on their peach ballot paper on May 7th and help stop an SNP majority.”
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