Voting Tory on peach ballot ‘secret weapon to kick SNP out’, Findlay to say

Voting Scottish Conservative on the peach ballot is the “secret weapon” to remove the SNP from power, Russell Findlay will say.

The Tory leader is expected to tell his party’s conference in Edinburgh that casting a ballot for the Conservatives on the regional list is the “smart way” to stop John Swinney returning to power.

In a keynote speech to the conference at Murrayfield on Saturday, he will say Tory votes will prevent the First Minister gaining a majority at Parliament – something the SNP says is needed for a second independence referendum.

Mr Findlay is expected to say: “Holyrood needs a strong Scottish Conservative voice like never before.

“Without one, the Parliament will keep turning its back on swathes of the country it’s supposed to serve.

“In this election, we are going to fight for the people who do the right thing, but who feel they’re getting nowhere.

“On May 7, the second of your two votes – the peach ballot paper – is your secret weapon.

“It is the smart way to stop the SNP across the country.

“To stop John Swinney from winning a majority he says will lead to a referendum. To stop the SNP-Green horror show of Bute House 2. To stop the phoney unionists of Reform helping the SNP get back in.”

Mr Findlay said a victory for Mr Swinney would mean “five more years of the same failed approach”, as he accused the SNP of “secrecy and evasion, dishonesty and deceit”.

He will warn the SNP’s return to government would mean “trapping us on the same downward spiral of higher taxes, higher benefits, low growth, declining public services”.

He will add: “Neither Labour nor the Lib Dems will oppose the SNP – they’re just too weak. They’ve failed before and they’ll keep failing.

“That leaves us. The Scottish Conservatives are the voice of common sense.

“We are the voice for ordinary, decent, hard-working Scots who dread five more years of the same.”

Ahead of the May election, the Tories have called for an end to minimum alcohol unit pricing as well as the closure of the safer drugs consumption room in Glasgow.

The party has also pledged to repeal SNP legislation on the early release of prisoners.

In education, they have called for headteachers, rather than councils, to be given the power to permanently exclude pupils, and for schools to be allowed to opt out of council control – highlighting the success of the high-performing Jordanhill School in Glasgow.

They party also wants to see an end to low-emissions zones and a review of current ones in place.

SNP MSP Emma Harper said: “Murrayfield Stadium is a bit ambitious for the couple of dozen Tories who turned up.

“The Tories voted against new GP walk-in clinics, the freezing of rail fares, record investment in affordable homes, and tax changes that will see most Scots paying less tax than they would elsewhere on these islands – they are a party that offers the people of Scotland nothing.

“While the Tories enjoy their wee gathering in Edinburgh, John Swinney is focused on delivering for our NHS, on the cost-of-living crisis and on offering hope through a fresh start with independence – that’s what is on the ballot in May.”

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said “This increasingly irrelevant Tory Party has officially vacated the pitch in constituency races across Scotland.

“It’s clearer than ever that only Scottish Labour can beat the SNP and remove them from Government.

“The only way to get rid of this failing SNP Government and deliver a new direction for our country is by voting Scottish Labour.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat election campaign chairwoman Wendy Chamberlain said: “Everyone can see that the Scottish Conservative campaign is a total lemon. Voters are fleeing them because they have nothing positive to offer.

“Wherever you are, if you want to beat the SNP, you should back the Scottish Liberal Democrats on the peach regional ballot.”