Yousaf faces 'Unionist pincer movement' that could hammer SNP

Humza Yousaf faces ‘Unionist pincer movement’ that could hammer SNP at next general election as Scottish Tories ‘won’t bust a gut’ in seats where Labour can win

• There are hopes among rival parties that they can soon end the SNP’s dominance

New SNP leader Humza Yousaf is facing what has been dubbed a ‘unionist pincer movement’ that could hammer his party at the next general election.

It is claimed the Scottish Tories, led by Douglas Ross, ‘won’t bust a gut’ in Westminster constituencies where Labour are the nearest challengers to the SNP.

The SNP won 48 out of 59 seats in Scotland at the 2019 general election, with the Tories winning six, the Liberal Democrats four and Labour winning Edinburgh South. 

But the resignation of Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader – along with the bitter splits in the party that deepened during the chaotic contest to replace her – have buoyed hopes among other parties that they can bring to an end the SNP’s dominance.

Labour have ruled out a tactical voting ‘unionist pact’ among anti-independence parties, but it has been suggested that a looser deal could materialise.

New SNP leader Humza Yousaf is facing what has been dubbed a ‘unionist pincer movement’ that could hammer his party at the next general election

It is claimed the Scottish Tories, led by Douglas Ross, ‘won’t bust a gut’ in Westminster constituencies where Labour are the nearest challengers to the SNP

The SNP won 48 out of 59 seats in Scotland at the 2019 general election, with the Tories winning six, the Liberal Democrats four and Labour winning Edinburgh South

According to the Telegraph, the Scottish Tories will hand Labour a free run at urban seats and will instead relentlessly target voters in rural areas held by the SNP.

‘We think it’s wrong to say that only Labour will benefit from the turmoil in the SNP,’ a Tory source told the newspaper 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 us, 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.’

The Scottish Tories have vowed to be ‘champions of rural Scotland’ and will reportedly focus their attacks on the SNP over the proposal for new marine protection areas.

The plans are backed by the Scottish Greens, who have continued their power-sharing deal with the SNP under Mr Yousaf, but have sparked fears they decimate local fishing industries.

Rachael Hamilton, MSP for the Scottish Borders and the Tories’ rural affairs spokeswoman, said: ‘Rural communities have been continually let down by this SNP Government for 16 years but under Humza Yousaf’s leadership this looks set to be turbocharged – he is hugging the Greens closer than even Nicola Sturgeon did.’

Scottish Labour have dismissed claims they could do a tactical voting deal with the Scottish Tories at the next general election.

It followed reports at the weekend that the Conservatives had offered to co-operate in a ‘vote smart’ strategy to shore up unionist votes in rural areas in exchange for lending support to Labour in Scotland’s central belt between Glasgow to Edinburgh.

The Tories did not deny the claims, with Stephen Kerr, one of the party’s MSPs for Central Scotland, saying: ‘I think it would be wrong to underestimate the sophistication of the Scottish electorate.

‘I think they know exactly what they want, they know exactly how to vote.’

The supposed plans could cause concern at the Conservative’s central office in London, amid fears that a boost for Labour in Scotland would increase the chances of Sir Keir Starmer replacing Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister.

Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, said: ‘It appears the Scottish Tories have accepted that they have lost the next general election.

‘Scotland has two failing governments. The next general election is an opportunity to get rid of the Tories and send a message to the SNP — by voting Scottish Labour.’ 

The SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said the reports represented the ‘dreadful Better Together band announcing their reunion’, referring to the pro-union campaign in the lead up to the 2014 independence referendum. 

‘The disastrous duo have been standing shoulder-to-shoulder in councils and in Holyrood ever since but, be in no doubt, people will not be fooled by this latest effort,’ he added.

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