Russell Findlay today launched the Scottish Conservatives’ Holyrood election campaign with a rallying cry to activists to stop the “nightmare scenario” of an SNP majority.
The party leader warned that John Swinney has boasted of his secret plan for independence and that he would push it relentlessly if the Nationalists win a majority on May 7.
At the event in Edinburgh, Findlay said the Scottish Conservatives had prevented that outcome in 2016 and 2021, and could do so again, as he urged voters to back his party on their peach ballot paper.
Highlighting 19 years of SNP failure across a host of policy areas, he added that the Scottish Conservatives were the only party that could be trusted to stand up to the Nationalists, and for the common-sense views of hard-working Scots.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “This election should be about the cost of living. It’s the number one issue on the doorsteps because hard-working Scots are really struggling with rising bills under the SNP.
“But independence is also on the ballot paper because John Swinney has put it there. He has said that an SNP majority is a mandate for another divisive independence referendum and he will push relentlessly for it. This threat is real.
“We are the only party that fundamentally supports the Union and we have a track record of standing up to this dismal SNP government.
“Reform are not a Unionist party. They field pro-independence candidates, court nationalists and Lord Offord has provided a roadmap to another referendum.
“An SNP majority is the nightmare scenario facing Scots – and it’s up to the Scottish Conservatives to stop it, like we did in 2016 and 2021.
“People across Scotland have a secret weapon to stop that SNP majority: by voting Scottish Conservative on their peach ballot paper.
“John Swinney thinks he’s got it in the bag, but I will throw the kitchen sink at stopping him over the next six weeks. Together, let’s do it.”