‘Tory-free’ call is ‘open contempt’

Humza Yousaf ’s comments about making Scotland “Tory-free” are treating voters with “open contempt”, his opponent Douglas Ross has said.

The Scottish Conservative leader responded to remarks made by the SNP leader at a meeting of activists in Perth at the weekend.

The SNP’s longest-serving MP, Pete Wishart, said he would not use the “Tory-free” message in the upcoming general election campaign.

At the start of the year, Mr Yousaf said the upcoming election is the chance to make Scotland Tory-free and, addressing the SNP’s campaign council on Saturday, he used the phrase “Tory-free” multiple times.

Mr Ross said: “These insulting comments demonstrate the SNP’s open contempt for the almost 700,000 Scots who voted Scottish Conservative at the last election.

“Humza Yousaf’s divisive rhetoric shows why we are asking pro-UK voters to vote together for the Scottish Conservatives. If we unite once more, we can beat the SNP and end their campaign to divide Scotland for good.

“The one thing Humza Yousaf is correct about is that in many seats up and down Scotland, the election will be a straight fight between the SNP and the Scottish Conservatives. He should suffer at the ballot box for pushing such divisive language.

“We are calling for voters in those constituencies who are sick and tired of Humza Yousaf spreading division to back the local Scottish Conservative candidate so we can defeat the SNP and get the focus back on Scotland’s real priorities, such as fixing our public services.”

Ahead of an expected Westminster vote in the latter part of this year, the SNP has set its sights on wiping out the Conservatives in Scotland, aiming to win all seven of the seats they currently hold north of the border.

Polling analysts have said the SNP faces a challenge from Labour north of the border and in October the pro-independence party lost a by-election race in Rutherglen and Hamilton West.

At the last general election, the SNP won 48 out of 59 Scottish seats.

Earlier yesterday, the SNP Independence Minister Jamie Hepburn defended his party leader’s remarks as “clear and straightforward”.

He said: “It’s time for them to go and I think it’s a very clear and straightforward message.”

SPEECH: Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said the call was divisive.