Tories may have bought last election, says Sturgeon

STUC: Poll linked to expenses probe

Nicola Sturgeon claimed yesterday that the snap UK election was called so that the Conservatives can escape the consequences of alleged expenses fraud.

The first minister suggested that Tory “misdemeanours” may have led to the party “buying the last general election”, and that Theresa May wants another vote to be held before criminal prosecution “catches up” with her colleagues.

Ms Sturgeon made the allegations in her speech to the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) in Aviemore yesterday afternoon.

The SNP leader was referring to a £70,000 fine handed out to the Conservatives by the Electoral Commission last month over breaches of spending rules during the run-up to the 2015 general election.

The Crown Prosecution Service is considering criminal charges against at least 30 party members, including sitting MPs and potential election candidates.

Ms Sturgeon became the most high-profile political figure to claim that the prospect of prosecutions had played a key role in the prime minister’s surprise decision to go to the polls on June 8. Mrs May had repeatedly ruled out a snap election before last week’s announcement.

“Possible prosecutions for alleged expenses fraud”

In her address to STUC delegates, the first minister said: “We are, of course, at the start of a general election campaign.

“A campaign called by the prime minister last week for one purpose and one purpose only: to strengthen the grip of the Tory party and crush dissent and opposition, and to do so before possible criminal prosecutions for alleged expenses fraud at the last general election catches up with her.

“Whatever else happens in this election, we should not allow the Tory party to escape accountability for any misdemeanours that may have led to them buying the last general election.”

Last night, a Scottish Conservative source branded the claims “bizarre”, adding: “Coming from the party leader who had to suspend two of her MPs in the last two years, her allegations of wrongdoing sound very thin indeed.”

Ms Sturgeon was speaking about three hours after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had addressed the STUC.

Her 20-minute address focussed firmly on the “catastrophic” threat posed by the “hardline” Conservatives, as she cast the election battle in Scotland as a “two-horse race”, with Mr Corbyn’s party not in the running.

“The fact is that it has never been more important for people across Scotland to think clearly and ask ourselves this question ‘how can we best protect Scotland from the hardline Tories?,” she said.

“That’s why the next few weeks, and the next two years as the Brexit process completes, will be so important for our future.”

MESSAGE: Nicola Sturgeon speaks at STUC conference