Conservative strategists plan to hand Labour a free run at reclaiming its former
urban strongholds while they target rural constituencies
Humza Yousaf faces a Unionist pincer movement at the next general election,
under Scottish Tory plans to relentlessly target rural voters while handing
Labour a free run at reclaiming its former urban strongholds.
“We think it’s wrong to say that only Labour will benefit from the turmoil in
the SNP,” a Tory source said. “We’re going to hammer the point that we are
the only party that understands rural Scotland and will defend it.
“Seats changing hands between the SNP and Labour in the central belt
doesn’t really concern as, as neither will back a Tory prime minister.
“We’re not going to bust a gut in places we have no chance. Our resources
will be targeted at seats we know we can win.”
A series of Scottish Government policies backed by the Greens, such as new
marine protection areas which will effectively ban fishing, are set to be
relentlessly attacked by the Tories.
Rachael Hamilton, rural affairs spokesman for the Scottish Tories, said: “The
fact that the rural affairs brief was used as a political ploy to force Kate
Forbes to the backbenches tells you all that you need to know about Humza
Yousaf’s interest in rural Scotland.
Encourage unionists to vote Labour
There were reports on Monday that the Tories would encourage Unionist
voters to back Labour in some constituencies in a bid to “end nationalist
dominance”.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics...eral-election/