Humza Yousaf: Scotland must reject 'Tory values' at general election 'red or blue'

Scotland’s First Minster will call on the country to “reject Tory policies, ideas and values” at the next general election.

In a jibe at Labour, Humza Yousaf is expected to say “that means rejecting them whether they’re delivered by someone in a blue rosette or a red one”.

Speaking ahead of the SNP’s so-called campaign council in Perth on Saturday, the FM said the next general election – slated to be in the second half of this year – would be a “historic win” to make Scotland “Tory-free”.

“In this election, we have the chance to make Scotland Tory free”, he will say. “We can make history. And there’s only one way to do it.

“Most seats across Scotland are a straight fight between the SNP and the Tories – and the SNP are in second place in each seat the Tories hold.

“Let us resolve, here and now, to win all of those Tory seats.”

A general election is set to take place in the next year. iStock

He will say that removing Scottish Tories from their seats would mean “more than kicking out the handful of hapless Tory MPs currently in Westminster”.

“We need to reject not just Tory politicians, but Tory policies, Tory ideas and Tory values,” he will add.

“That means rejecting them whether they’re delivered by someone in a blue rosette or a red one.

“Labour has made it clear that Scotland is an afterthought, that is why they are prepared to risk 100,000 Scottish jobs to build new nuclear power plants in England.

“The only Party that will put Scotland first is the SNP. When the SNP is winning, Scotland wins.”

Politics

Yousaf: I’ll stay on as FM if SNP loses seats at general election

The First Minister suggested that even if his party lost a third of its MPs he would stay on as leader.

Jackie Baillie, deputy leader of Scottish Labour, said: “Humza Yousaf is spending yet another weekend trying to cobble together a coherent General Election strategy, but the truth is he has nothing to offer voters.

“The SNP has a woeful record in government and no ideas for the future – and they don’t even have a plan to deliver their one policy of independence.

“Humza Yousaf cannot claim the SNP will speak for Scotland while they are defending the obscene profits of oil and gas giants over the interests of Scots struggling with high energy bills.

“While the SNP shout from the sidelines, Scottish Labour will put Scotland’s voice at the heart of government and deliver better pay, lower bills, a growing economy and stronger public services.

“At the next election, Scotland can end SNP and Tory decline and choose change with Labour.”