The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Sturgeon says Scotland could decide election
First Minister says voting for any party other than the SNP will put May in No. 10
Scottish votes could decide the outcome of the general election, Nicola Sturgeon claimed as a new poll put the Conservative lead over Labour at just three points.
A number of Tories north of the border are privately concerned about the UK party’s campaign having a negative effect on its efforts.
Several sources have told The Courier that kickback against policies such as the “dementia tax” and ending the triple lock on pensions, as well as Theresa May’s performance in the televised interview is making it more difficult to persuade “soft” Labour voters to back them in an effort to defeat the SNP.
Ms Sturgeon said: “The Tories have been completely exposed in this election campaign, with a weak and evasive Prime Minister who is unable to answer basic questions on the impact her policies will have on people across the country – from the dementia tax, to the removal of the winter fuel allowance, cuts to public services and social security and the consequences for jobs of an extreme Brexit, the Tories have been found completely wanting.
“What is clear is that it will be ordinary people who pay the price of their plans.
“As the polls narrow across the rest of the UK, whether or not the Tories can increase their majority could come down to the outcome in Scotland.”
The SNP leader added: “The reality is that only the SNP is strong enough to take on the Tories in Scotland.
“At the last election, the SNP was in first or second position in every constituency in Scotland.
“A vote for any other party risks letting a Tory MP in the back door and giving Theresa May a bigger majority.”
A You Gov poll put Labour on 39% against the Conservatives’ 42%.
There was slightly better news for Mrs May from a Panelbase poll, which put her party eight points ahead of Labour, but that still meant the Tories’ advantage had almost halved in a week.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said her MPs would get real results for Scotland and accused the SNP of having “failed to deliver”.
She also promised that any Tories elected to the Commons would “strengthen the bonds” between Westminster and Holyrood, work for the best Brexit deal for both Scotland and the UK and “deliver for Scotland so we lead the UK not leave it”.
A Scottish Labour spokesman said: “Nicola Sturgeon’s campaign is in total disarray and is descending into utter chaos.
“Her manifesto has been torn to shreds by experts and with her personal popularity ratings in freefall, it’s clear the tide is turning against Nicola Sturgeon.
“Just a week from the election, she is the most unpopular political leader in Scotland.
“As the Tory campaign also flounders, only Labour can defeat the SNP in seats across Scotland – including Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, Edinburgh South, East Lothian, Lanark and Hamilton East, Coatbridge and Chryston and Bellshill.”
“A vote for Labour on June 8 will send Nicola Sturgeon a message to drop her plans for a divisive second independence referendum and get back to the job of fixing the mess she has made of our schools and hospitals.”
At the last election, the SNP was in first or second position in every constituency in Scotland. NICOLA STURGEON