Tory MSP asks Labour supporters to lend them a vote
The Scottish Conservatives have made a direct pitch to Labour voters asking them to lend their support to the party in a bid to stop another independence referendum.
In an open letter, Scottish Tory MSP Annie Wells said that whilst supporters of the two parties do not agree on every issue, most could agree that another vote on independence should not be held.
Ms Wells urged Labour supporters to vote Conservative in the election having suggested that Jeremy Corbyn would grant another referendum in exchange for taking up residence at Downing Street.
In her letter, Ms Wells wrote: "When I was growing up in Springburn in Glasgow, I was Labour. My family were Labour. We were all Labour.
"But, during the independence referendum, I decided instead to back the Scottish Conservatives.
"I realised that only they could be relied on 100% to back Scotland's place in the Union. It was only by voting for them that I could make my voice heard.''
She continued: "When I speak to my friends and family in Govanhill and in Springburn, they don't recognise this Labour Party. It is not the Labour Party of old. It's certainly not the Labour Party of Red Clydeside or of Donald Dewar.
"It's not even the Labour Party of Gordon Brown, who so passionately defended the union in the last moments of the 2014 referendum campaign.
"Labour should be proud of its past traditions as the party who stood up for solidarity between people across the UK. But Corbyn has dumped all that.
"Cynically, he has decided Labour can't win in Scotland any more. He knows he needs SNP votes to get into Number 10. So he's decided to cave in on a second referendum to get a foot in the door.''
Ms Wells added: "Labour and Conservative supporters won't agree on every issue. But most of us can agree that we want to stop Nicola Sturgeon from getting Indyref2.
"Please help us send Sturgeon a message that we do not want to be divided any more. We are fed up with referendums and we're fed up with Nicola Sturgeon.
"And only your vote this time for the Scottish Conservative and Unionist party can send that message.''
Scottish Labour deputy leader Lesley Laird described the pitch by Ms Wells as "desperate''.
"Annie Wells' appeal to Labour supporters to vote Tory would be laughable if it wasn't so desperate,'' she said.
"The people of Scotland know the Tory party is not their friend. They can see it in the rise in child poverty, the disregard that the Tory Government shows for Scottish public opinion and the Tories' sharp turn to English nationalism.
"In contrast, Scottish Labour stands on a platform promising real and lasting change for Scotland.
"Only a transformative UK Labour Government backed by Scottish Labour MPs can safeguard the unity of this country, because when Labour wins, Scotland wins.''
The SNP's candidate for Airdrie and Shotts, Neil Gray, said that the campaign by the Conservatives in Scotland is a "blatant con trick''.
"For voters in Scotland, the choice in this election is crystal clear,'' he said.
"It's a choice between the SNP who reject Brexit, reject austerity and stand up for our local communities - or the Tories who want to cut Scotland off from Europe against our will, impose deeper cuts on public services and hand their rich chums in the City tax cuts.
"A vote for Labour at this election simply risks letting Tory MPs in through the backdoor - helping Boris Johnson fulfil his right-wing Brexit fantasy that will destroy jobs, businesses and household incomes here in Scotland.
"And the Tory campaign in Scotland is a blatant con trick, whatever they say a vote for the Tories will simply endorse a deeply damaging Brexit that will hit jobs, living standards and reduce workers rights."
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