On Thursday, May 6th, voters across Scotland will go to the polls in this year’s Scottish elections. The Additional Member System used to elect MSPs is more proportional and gives several different parties a shot at gaining seats. However, this election has been dominated by a single issue, the SNPs uncompromising quest for another independence referendum. Although many parties oppose the nationalists and their divisive plans, only one has the electoral strength and credibility to form a robust challenge. With Alex Salmond’s new Alba party trying to game the system and achieve a pro-independence supermajority, it is more important than ever that pro-UK voters unite around the most steadfast force in British politics. Giving your regional list ballot to the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party is the only sure-fire way to resist the SNP and secure our recovery.
The next largest party, Scottish Labour, have all but admitted their indifference towards the union. A string of labour candidates, activists and supporters openly endorse the SNP’s second referendum. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar refuses to join a pro-union collation. And to top it off, party leader Keir Starmer will not rule out going into collation with the SNP if they make him prime minister. Many within labour still fixate on conservative politicians and ideological differences. Our 314-year-old union is far more meaningful than the transient political debates of this day and age. Labour voters who genuinely care about the UK need to choose the strongest, most committed party. Think of it not as a vote for conservatism but as a vote against nationalism.
The smaller parties, including the Lib Dems, Reform UK and All for Unity, only divide us further and help the SNP. They will try to get into Holyrood on the regional list, but many will not achieve the threshold percentage, and thus their votes are wasted when they could go towards the strongest pro-UK party. It has never been more important to stick with the leading unionist voice; there is simply too much at stake. By voting together, we send the message that Scotland is sick and tired of the hostile and xenophobic rhetoric coming from the SNP. A vote for the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party on May 6th is a vote to put recovery first and leave the arguments of the past where they belong.