Douglas Ross backtracks on suggestion Tories might vote Labour to oust SNP

Scottish Conservative chief Douglas Ross has backtracked on feedback he made suggesting Conservative voters might vote Labour on the subsequent normal election in seats the place Sir Keir Starmer’s celebration had a greater probability of profitable in opposition to the SNP.

Mr Ross’s feedback concerning the following normal election in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph recommended Conservative voters “do what’s finest for the nation” and help “the strongest candidate to beat the SNP”, strongly suggesting that will contain voting Labour, the place they’re in the most effective place to beat the SNP.

The Scottish Tory chief appeared to backtrack on the feedback in an interview with Channel 4’s Ciaran Jenkins on Sunday night after they brought about anger inside the UK celebration – and it has since emerged he didn’t talk about it with the UK celebration chief and Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.

Mr Ross informed Channel 4 Information: “I’m very clear I need Scottish Conservative voters to vote Scottish Conservative, however we all know, there are lots of seats throughout Scotland within the north, the north east and the central belt comparable to East Renfrewshire the place the Scottish Conservatives are the challengers to the SNP.”

Mr Ross, who has been chief of the Scottish Conservatives since 2020, then recommended different events ought to vote for the Tories to see the SNP “shedding seats” throughout Scotland.

He mentioned: “If supporters of different events unite behind the Scottish Conservatives we are able to see the SNP shedding seats proper throughout Scotland.

“What I’m targeted on are the seats the place the Scottish Conservatives are the primary challengers, it’s as much as different events to resolve what they wish to do within the seats they’re focusing on.

“At the moment at Westminster and Holyrood, the Scottish Conservatives have extra MSPs and MPs than Labour or the Liberal Democrats mixed.

“We’re the most important celebration difficult the SNP.”

However Mr Ross was challenged on these assertions by Channel 4 correspondent Ciaran Jenkins, who requested him if he was “certain about that”.

Mr Jenkins mentioned: “What number of seats are Labour in second place to the SNP in Westminster?”

Mr Ross mentioned: “Lower than the Scottish Conservatives.”

He was then introduced with figures exhibiting that Labour have been truly second place to the SNP in 26 Westminster seats in Scotland, in comparison with 20 for the Tories.

Mr Ross mentioned: “I haven’t mentioned this straight with the Prime Minister, however we’ve mentioned the place we’re going to be focusing our efforts within the forthcoming normal election at any time when that known as.”

The Tories rejected Mr Ross’s feedback on Sunday, and mentioned they have been “emphatically not the view of the Conservative Get together” and that voters ought to help the Tories “wherever they’re standing”.

Scottish Labour deputy chief Jackie Baillie mentioned: “Douglas Ross’ delusional response to the stress his celebration faces is really one thing to behold.

“His determined makes an attempt to smear Labour at each flip smack of a pacesetter and a celebration who know that their time is up.

“Scotland deserves higher than the scandal-hit SNP and the failing Tories.

“The individuals of Scotland are crying out for change and Scottish Labour is working onerous to ship the change that Scotland wants.”