The three main pro-Union parties yesterday pleaded with supporters of the United Kingdom to consider voting tactically in today’s Holyrood election to stop the SNP. On the eve of the poll, the Scottish Tories, Labour and Lib Dems all appealed for supporters of other parties to back them in key constituencies if they want to avoid being represented by a Nationalist MSP.
It comes as the latest poll showed the SNP’s support has declined further since the start of the campaign and it is currently on track to fail to secure John Swinney’s target of a majority, which he said would be a mandate for another independence referendum. Nearly one in six voters also said they are planning to vote tactically, with the likelihood of this tactical voting highest among those who intend to back Labour, the Conservatives or the Liberal Democrats.
The Mail’s tactical voting guide, produced in conjunction with the Scotland in Union campaign group, highlighted the best-placed pro-Union rival to the SNP in all 73 constituencies on the purple ballot paper. It showed that Labour is best-placed in 47 seats, the Conservatives in 16, and the Liberal Democrats in ten.
Ruth Davidson’s Final Rallying Cry
Writing in today’s Mail, former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson issued a final rallying cry to pro-UK Scots to ensure they vote in today’s election because ‘your vote can help stop an SNP majority and all the damage and upheaval that would cause’. She added: ‘The peach ballot paper is your secret weapon to stop an SNP majority. The Scottish Conservatives, led by Russell Findlay, have urged Scots to vote for them on the peach ballot paper to stop an SNP majority. By voting Scottish Conservative on it, you’re helping stop Swinney in his tracks.’
Direct Appeals for Tactical Voting
Labour, the Tories and the Lib Dems all yesterday made a direct appeal for pro-Union tactical voting on the purple constituency ballot paper. The Tories believe they are best-placed in the three south of Scotland seats closest to the Border – Dumfriesshire, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, and Galloway and West Dumfries – as well as three in Aberdeen and the surrounding areas – Aberdeenshire West, Aberdeenshire East and Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine.
The party also ran the SNP close in Banffshire and Buchan Coast in 2021 but the emergence of Reform makes that seat a close three-way battle, while it is in a direct two-way battle with the SNP in Moray. John Swinney’s constituency in Perthshire North and the neighbouring Perthshire South and Kinross-shire also remain Tory targets, as well as Ayr and Eastwood.
Russell Findlay’s Final Campaign Event
At his final campaign event in Edinburgh yesterday, Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay said: ‘I don’t want to encourage anyone to vote for other parties, that’s my starting position. But some people are choosing to do so because they are so sick and tired of the damage inflicted by the SNP and the nightmare thought of these charlatans getting another five years of trashing Scotland. I get that, but what I would say to all pro-UK voters wherever they live in Scotland – that peach ballot paper is their secret weapon to stop an SNP majority.’ He added: ‘Where we hold seats, we are the only chance to stop the SNP. There is a huge risk, especially in the seats we hold or the seats where we are currently second, if people are tempted by another party that is going to open the door to the SNP. So the seats that we hold and the seats that we are second, they are the ones I’m focusing on.’
Lib Dem and Labour Targets
The ten Lib Dem targets include most of the seats across the Highlands and Islands, as well as Fife North East, Edinburgh North Western, and Strathkelvin and Bearsden, while Labour are targeting dozens of constituencies mainly across the Central Belt. Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: ‘Scottish Labour is the best party to beat the SNP in key constituencies right across the country – particularly where we beat the SNP in the general election. We have defeated the SNP before and we can do so again. All Reform will do is help the SNP cling on for another miserable five years in power.’
Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: ‘I want to urge pro-UK voters to get behind us in our ten key target seats. If Scottish Liberal Democrats win seats like Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Inverness and Nairn, and Argyll and Bute, Swinney’s referendum plan is dead in the water. You’ll get yourself a hardworking local MSP and you’ll have stopped the nationalists to boot.’
Scotland in Union Chairman’s Appeal
Alastair Cameron, chairman of Scotland in Union, said: ‘The best way to stop the SNP is to vote tactically. Those who want to see the back of the SNP and their independence obsession must get behind the candidate best placed to beat the Nationalists in their constituency.’
Swinney’s Eve of Poll Message
In his eve of poll message to voters yesterday, Mr Swinney said: ‘The best way to ensure we can deliver for you is by electing a majority SNP government – one that supports people with the cost of living, locks Nigel Farage out of power in Scotland, and delivers the fresh start of independence.’
