Losing seats ‘will not be a disaster’

NICOLA Sturgeon has claimed that it would not be a ‘disaster’ if the SNP loses up to 16 seats in next week’s General Election.

The Nationalist leader insisted her only aim is to win a majority of Scotland’s 59 seats – and claimed people are wrong to suggest that taking only 40 to 50 would be a failure.

Her comments indicate that she is trying to downplay expectations amid a series of polls which suggest the SNP could lose several of its seats next week.

Among party heavyweights said to be under pressure are deputy leader Angus Robertson and Perth and North Perthshire candidate Pete Wishart.

The SNP manifesto states that winning 30 seats would complete a ‘triple lock’ on the party’s demands for a second divisive independence referendum.

Asked how this election compares with 2015, when the SNP was ‘riding on the crest of a wave’, Miss Sturgeon said: ‘We are, and I’m not taking anything for granted, on course to win this election and we’ll certainly be working hard to try and do that.

‘It’s important to put it in context. Yes, in 2015 the SNP had an exceptional election result and I’d love to think we’ll repeat [it]. But having been in politics for the best part of 30 years, and being in the SNP at times when six MPs was success for us, for people now to say to me, “Oh, if you only get 50, 40, that would be a disaster”, well, not really.’

A poll published by BMG yesterday, carried out from May 12-18, suggested that the SNP’s vote share is set to fall to 43 per cent, compared with 50 per cent in the 2015 general election.

The Scottish Conservatives are on 30 per cent, Labour on 18 per cent and the Liberal Democrats on 5 per cent.

An analysis by the Electoral Calculus predictor estimates that the result would mean the Tories would gain ten seats from the SNP, which would have 46 seats.

It also predicts that Mr Robertson, who has a 9,065 majority in Moray, would be among the losers.

A Scottish Labour spokesman said: ‘Polls conducted more recently than this one show Labour on a much higher share of the vote, but what appears consistent is that support for the SNP is on the slide thanks to the threat of a second independence referendum.

‘A vote for Labour on June 8 is a vote to oppose the SNP’s plan to divide Scotland again and to end austerity across the UK.’

A Scottish Tory spokesman said: ‘This is very clear evidence that there is only one party in Scotland capable of standing up to the SNP.

‘All across the country people are looking to the Scottish Conservatives to keep Scotland as a key part of the UK, and utterly oppose a second independence referendum.’

SNP election campaign manager Derek Mackay said: ‘This poll was taken over two weeks ago – but like all other polls, it shows that only a vote for the SNP can keep the Tories out.

‘Labour can’t win the election in Scotland – and a vote for them just risks letting a Tory MP in the back door.

‘Now more than ever it is vital to have strong SNP voices standing up for Scotland at Westminster.’

The Tories are targeting Mr Robertson’s seat after winning the majority of votes in his Moray constituency during last month’s council elections.

Party leader Ruth Davidson rates the chances of her candidate, Douglas Ross, of ousting the Nationalist at 50 per cent – based on the fact that almost half of all voters in his constituency backed Brexit in last year’s EU referendum.

Mr Wishart is defending a majority of 9,641 votes, while the Conservatives are also looking to overturn Alex Salmond’s 8,687 majority in Gordon.