Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has declared that only the Tories are prepared to "stand up" against Scottish National Party plans for another "divisive" independence referendum. She will deliver this message directly to supporters at a rally in Edinburgh on Thursday, as the Holyrood election campaign enters its final three weeks.
Campaign Push in Scotland
With polling day set for May 7, the UK Conservative leader is heading north to address a rally in Edinburgh. Her visit comes amid polling data suggesting the Conservatives, who were the second-largest party in the Scottish Parliament after the last election, now face potential losses. Badenoch is expected to frame the election as a critical moment for the Union.
Urging Pro-UK Unity
Mrs Badenoch will call on all pro-UK voters to "come together" and back the Conservative Party to prevent an SNP majority in the Holyrood election. She will argue that SNP leader and Scottish First Minister John Swinney has vowed to push for a second independence referendum if his party secures an overall majority of seats.
"The SNP remains completely obsessed with tearing our country apart," Badenoch is expected to say. "John Swinney has been very clear he will use a majority in the Scottish Parliament to press ahead with another divisive referendum."
Criticism of Rival Parties
In her speech, Badenoch will also take aim at other political forces. She will assert that Reform UK, which some polls suggest could become the second-largest party in Holyrood, "don't give a monkey's about the Union." Targeting Nigel Farage's party, led in Scotland by Lord Malcolm Offord, she will accuse them of trying to win at any cost, even if it means diluting the Unionist vote and standing pro-independence candidates.
Furthermore, Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay criticised Labour, noting that UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has not visited Scotland during the campaign. This came after Scottish Labour chief Anas Sarwar called for the Prime Minister to resign. Mr Findlay stated, "I'm thrilled to be welcoming Kemi Badenoch to the campaign trail again. Unlike Anas Sarwar, our UK leader is an asset, not a liability."
Election Stakes and Responses
Mr Findlay emphasised the stakes of the election, pointing to the latest leaders' debate where John Swinney reiterated his focus on a referendum. "That's why it's essential that pro-UK voters back the Scottish Conservatives on their peach ballot to stop an SNP majority and the constitutional chaos it would lead to," he said.
An SNP spokesperson responded sharply, claiming, "The Tories have absolutely nothing to offer the people of Scotland, but it is now no secret that Anas Sarwar plans to rely on their votes – and those of Reform – to force entry into Bute House." The spokesperson added that only an SNP majority can "lock out Farage and unlock independence," urging voters to support John Swinney's leadership for that future.
As the campaign intensifies, Badenoch's rally in Edinburgh underscores the Conservative strategy to consolidate pro-Union support and position themselves as the primary bulwark against SNP ambitions, setting the stage for a contentious final stretch before the May 7 vote.
