Make election the ‘season finale’ for SNP independence campaign, urge Scottish Tories

Craig Hoy (R) said voters had the opportunity to "draw a permanent line" under the Nationalists' separation campaign by backing the Conservatives - James Chapelard

The general election is the “best chance yet” to beat the SNP in Scotland and make it the “season finale” of their bid for independence, it has been claimed.

Craig Hoy, the Scottish Tory chairman, said voters had the opportunity to “draw a permanent line” under the Nationalists’ separation campaign by backing the Conservatives in seats where it is a direct contest between the two parties.

He said an SNP defeat at the ballot box would force John Swinney’s government to focus on domestic matters, such as the NHS, rather than independence.

But Mr Hoy warned that backing Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party risked splitting the Unionist vote and helping the SNP win seats they would otherwise lose.

His intervention came as Mr Swinney dodged questions during a radio phone-in on whether Scots who are opposed to another independence referendum should vote for a different party.

The first page of the SNP manifesto contained the words in block capitals: “Vote SNP for Scotland to become an independent country.”

The prospectus said Mr Swinney would have the democratic right to open “immediate negotiations” with Westminster for another referendum if the party wins a majority of Scotland’s 57 seats.

But a series of polls have indicated the SNP is on course to lose well over half of the 48 seats it won in the 2019 general election, with Labour again predicted to have the largest number of Scottish MPs.

The Tories are trying to hold the six seats they won in the last election and take up to six more held by the SNP, including Gordon and Buchan in Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross-shire and Angus and Perthshire Glens.

Mr Hoy said: “This general election in Scotland is a huge opportunity to beat the SNP, so that all of the focus can finally be on the things that really matter, such as faster GP appointments and fixing the roads.

“If voters back the Scottish Conservatives in the key seats where we are going toe to toe with the Nationalists, it could be the season finale of the SNP’s bid for independence.”

Ahead of campaigning in the Highlands, Mr Swinney said: “There’s just two days until polling stations open, and across Scotland the result is too close to call.

“The result in England is a foregone conclusion and Keir Starmer will be the next UK Prime Minister. But in Scotland, the outcome is on a knife edge and every single vote will count.”

Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, urged voters to 'boot out' the Tories - Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, said: “For 14 years the Tories have caused economic turmoil and human suffering across Scotland – but in just 48 hours we have the opportunity to boot them out.

“The stakes could not be higher in this election. On Thursday, Scotland faces a stark choice between five more years of Tory sleaze, chaos and failure, or change with Labour.”

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