With one week to go until polling day, Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay has urged pro-UK voters to use their peach ballot papers to put a stop to John Swinney’s plans to break up the United Kingdom.
Findlay will be at the Union Bridge on the Scotland-England border this morning as he continues his tour of the Scottish Conservatives ‘blue wall’ seats.
He will be joined by the party’s deputy leader Rachael Hamilton, who is seeking to be re-elected in the Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency.
The Scottish Conservatives winning the three ‘blue wall’ seats in 2016 and 2021 was key to stopping the SNP getting a majority.
Findlay says John Swinney is “hellbent” on ripping up the strong bonds we share across the United Kingdom – which are perfectly highlighted by the Union Bridge – if the SNP win a majority next week.
He says that pro-UK voters cannot sleepwalk into more constitutional chaos and must realise the threat of another independence referendum happening in 2028 is very real.
Findlay added that voting for his party is the tried and tested way of stopping an SNP majority and that only they can be trusted to stand up for Scotland’s place in the Union.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “The magnificent Union Bridge represents the treasured and enduring bonds of the United Kingdom.
“For his entire adult life, John Swinney has been hellbent on destroying those bonds. If he wins a majority next week, he will immediately demand another independence referendum.
“Voters living in the Scottish Conservative blue wall spanning the south of Scotland have the power to stop Swinney.
“Winning the three seats I’ve campaigned in over the last two days was key to stopping an SNP majority in 2016 and 2021. We can do it again.
“With polls showing Swinney on the brink of a majority, the threat of another divisive referendum is real.
"Blue wall voters should back Scottish Conservative local champions while voters across Scotland should back us on their peach ballot paper to stop that nightmare scenario.”
Scottish Conservative Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire candidate Rachael Hamilton added: “I know from representing a seat so close to the border how important it is we stay part of our United Kingdom.
“Next Thursday you have the chance to protect our place in the world’s most successful Union.
“By campaigning alongside Russell Findlay at the Union Bridge today, we are showing how much the Union means to us.
“If pro-UK voters unite around us in key seats like this and on the peach ballot paper, then we can stop John Swinney’s plans to divide us all over again.”