RISHI Sunak will today tell Scots voters they can ‘put independence on the backburner for a generation’ if the SNP is ‘routed’ at the General Election.
The Prime Minister will issue a rallying cry to voters by telling them the ballot on July 4 is ‘Scotland’s chance to end the decade of division’.
He will say the SNP has ‘put their political obsession on the line’ with a manifesto commitment to demand another independence referendum if it wins a majority of Scottish seats. But he will warn that constitutional wrangling will end only if the SNP ‘lose big’ and is ‘routed’ at the election.
It comes as John Swinney was yesterday branded ‘arrogant’ for refusing to commit to taking independence off the table even if the SNP fails to win a majority of Scottish seats.
In a speech in Edinburgh to mark the launch of the Scottish Conservative manifesto, Mr Sunak will say: ‘All elections have consequences, but this vote in Scotland matters so much.
‘It will determine whether we have MPs focused on the real priorities of the Scottish people or whether the divisive constitutional wrangling of the last decade continues.
‘If the SNP win a majority of the seats at this election, they will treat that as a mandate to carry on campaigning for independence for another five years. Another five years of ignoring your priorities, with MPs achieving little at Westminster.
He will say the SNP has ‘put their political obsession on the line’ with a manifesto commitment to demand another independence referendum if it wins a majority of Scottish seats. But he will warn that constitutional wrangling will end only if the SNP ‘lose big’ and is ‘routed’ at the election.
It comes as John Swinney was yesterday branded ‘arrogant’ for refusing to commit to taking independence off the table even if the SNP fails to win a majority of Scottish seats.
In a speech in Edinburgh to mark the launch of the Scottish Conservative manifesto, Mr Sunak will say: ‘All elections have consequences, but this vote in Scotland matters so much.
‘It will determine whether we have MPs focused on the real priorities of the Scottish people or whether the divisive constitutional wrangling of the last decade continues.
‘If the SNP win a majority of the seats a vote for the Scottish Conservatives is a vote to put this issue to bed, to move past these tired and stale arguments and go forward together.
‘The SNP have put independence on “page one, line one” of their manifesto. They have put their political obsession on the line.
‘The 4th of July is Scotland’s chance to end the decade of division. To put independence on the backburner for a generation. To get back to the issues that really matter to communities up and down the country.
‘But that can only happen if the SNP are routed – if they do not just lose some seats, but the SNP lose big. And voting Scottish Conservative is the way to ensure that happens.’
The Scottish Conservative manifesto includes a range of pledges on tax, justice, health, education and road upgrades.
Mr Sunak will also warn of the threat to the Scottish economy of the SNP and Labour’s opposition to new oil and gas licences.
He will say: ‘It tells you everything you need to know that while the SNP are turning Scotland into the high tax capital of the UK, hiking taxes at every opportunity, this Conservative Government is cutting tax for workers here in Scotland and across the United Kingdom.
‘We’ve already cut taxes by £900 for the average worker by reducing the National Insurance tax. And if you offer us your support, we will cut this tax again.’
Highlighting Labour’s plans to raise taxes and ban new North Sea oil and gas licences, the Prime Minister will also say: ‘Labour don’t want to ban oil and gas, just British oil and gas. They would rather virtue signal to eco zealots than protect jobs at home.’
The SNP manifesto states that if the party wins a majority of Scottish seats, it would seek negotiations on another referendum.
During an interview on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme yesterday, Mr Swinney refused to take the push for independence off the table if the SNP fails to win a majority.
When asked by Ms Kuenssberg if he would accept that the will of the Scottish people is they don’t want another referendum if the SNP fails to win a majority, Mr Swinney said only that he wouldn’t prejudge the outcome of the General Election.
Ms Kuenssberg said: ‘You can’t have it both ways. You are saying if you have a majority you would do this… If you don’t have a majority will you accept that that is the Scottish electorate telling you they don’t want to pursue independence right now?’
Mr Swinney said: ‘The Scottish parliament was elected in 2021 with a majority of members for a five-year term committed to the delivery of a referendum on independence, and to delivering Scottish independence if that was supported in the referendum.
‘I think that democratic mandate from the people of Scotland, clearly given, has got to be delivered. This election is an opportunity for us to advance those arguments.’
When pressed again about whether he accepts that the SNP losing support at the election would mean it is losing support for independence, Mr Swinney said: ‘The democratic logic is that the people of Scotland have had their democratic will thwarted since 2021.’
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross accused Mr Swinney of taking an ‘arrogant approach’ by indicating that ‘it doesn’t matter what happens in elections, the SNP will continue to agitate for independence’.
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