Badenoch: Only Tories will stand up against SNP’s ‘divisive’ referendum plans

Only the Tories are prepared to “stand up” to SNP plans to hold another “divisive” vote on independence, party leader Kemi Badenoch will say as she campaigns in Scotland.

With three weeks to go until voters cast their ballots in the Holyrood election, the UK Conservative leader is heading north to speak to supporters at a rally in Edinburgh on Thursday.

Her visit comes as polls suggest the Tories – who were the second largest party in the Scottish Parliament after the last election – face losses this time round.

Mrs Badenoch is expected to urge all pro-UK voters to “come together” and back her party “to stop an SNP majority in this vital Holyrood election”.

SNP leader and Scottish First Minister John Swinney has vowed to push for a second independence referendum if his party wins an overall majority of seats in the Scottish Parliament.

Mrs Badenoch is expected to say the SNP remains “completely obsessed with tearing our country apart”.

She will add: “John Swinney has been very clear he will use a majority in the Scottish Parliament to press ahead with another divisive referendum.”

Mrs Badenoch will tell supporters that the Conservatives are “the only party prepared to stand up to this threat”.

She will also say that Reform UK – which some polls have suggested could be the second largest party in Holyrood after the May 7 election – “don’t give a monkey’s about the Union”.

Hitting out at Nigel Farage’s party, led in Scotland by Lord Malcolm Offord, Mrs Badenoch will add: “They will try and win at any cost, even if that means diluting the Unionist vote and standing pro-independence candidates.

“That’s why I am calling on all pro-UK voters to come together to stop an SNP majority in this vital Holyrood election.”

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay hit out at Labour, whose UK leader Sir Keir Starmer has not visited Scotland during the Holyrood election campaign, after Scottish Labour chief Anas Sarwar called for the Prime Minister to quit.

Mr Findlay said: “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.”

The Scottish Tory leader added: “We saw in the latest leaders’ debate that John Swinney is obsessed about pushing for a divisive referendum if he wins the election outright.

“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.”

An SNP spokesperson said: “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.

“Only an SNP majority will lock out Farage and unlock independence – that’s what’s on the ballot on May 7 and only a vote for John Swinney’s strong and experienced leadership can secure that future.”