The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Rennie insists the Lib Dems are on course to win all over Scotland
Willie Rennie has said the Scottish Lib Dems are aiming to win new seats in every corner of the country as they seek to prevent an SNP majority.
The party leader said new polls showed they were on the brink of making gains on Thursday.
While it seems certain Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP will emerge as the largest party, polls are less clear about whether the first minister will get the majority she is seeking for a second independence referendum.
Mr Rennie said: “I want to secure new seats in every corner of Scotland, from the Borders to the Highlands, and prevent a nationalist majority.”
Each party is fighting to win seats on the regional list ballot, and Mr Rennie said: “By voting for Liberal Democrat MSPS on the list, voters can help us cross the finish line and ensure the next parliament is packed with MSPS who will focus on education, mental health and the climate emergency, not another referendum.
“The peach ballot paper is a proportional voting system so every vote counts to put recovery first.”
He insisted his party would “make the difference” for a parliament focused on recovery.
Mr Rennie claimed previous SNP and independence supporters were switching to his party as they “recognise” now is not the time for a referendum, with coronavirus still damaging the country.
He told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “It’s the Liberal Democrat seats in this election that will make the difference between the parliament being focused on recovery, which the Liberal Democrats want, and the parliament being focused on independence, which is what the SNP want.
“I never put any limits on the number of seats that we’re going for.
“I just know we’re going to grow with the number of seats we’re going to gain in every part of Scotland.
“If you want to put recovery first, then you need to vote for the Liberal Democrats in every corner of Scotland.”
Mr Rennie said he would vote against another referendum even if the SNP win a majority.
He said it was “very democratic” because that is the position his voters were backing.
Mr Rennie added: “I think it will distract the country at a time they need to build recovery.
“If people vote for me on the basis that I’m clear – crystal clear – in an election campaign, it would be bizarre if I did the opposite after the election.”