Scottish Labour leader faces backlash after urging Scots to vote TORY to keep Sturgeon out
SCOTTISH Labour Party leader Kezia Dugdale faced a stinging backlash after encouraging people north of the border to vote Conservative to keep Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP out.
Dugdale: Tories better placed than Labour in parts of Scotland
Ms Dugdale told voters in the Borders, Highlands and other parts of Scotland that voting Tory was a better way to stop the Scottish National Party than voting for her own party’s candidates.
Speaking on Sky News, the Scottish politician said: “The reality is the vast majority of seats across Scotland, it’s only the Labour party that can beat the SNP.
“There are a few differences in the Borders and the Highlands where the Tories might be better placed but right across Scotland’s centre belt, where the vast majority of Scotland’s population lives, the only party that can beat the SNP is the Labour party.”
But the Scottish Labour leader was criticised on social media for her comments.
Cameron Archibald tweeted: "The fact @kezdugdale thinks it's more important to beat the SNP than to actually replace the current Tory government is beyond tragic."
There are a few differences in the Borders and the Highlands where the Tories might be better placed
While John Fowler also hit out at Ms Dugdale. He tweeted: "I wonder if @kezdugdale has forgotten, that in this election, every non Conservative win, is a win for the people of Scotland?"
Ms Dugdale has said she would not quit even if her party is completely wiped-out in next month’s General Election.
The MSP pledged to stay on until at least the next next Holyrood election in 2021 "no matter what the outcome" on June 8.
She also suggested the party's UK campaign had been lacklustre so far, rating it as "six or seven" out of 10.
Labour currently holds just one seat north of the Border, in Edinburgh South, and strategists believe incumbent Ian Murray will see off SNP and Tory threats.
But Conservatives have been buoyed by this month's council election and polls showing they will again push Ms Dugdale's party into third place.
During an interview with BBC Radio Scotland's Call Kaye programme, host Kaye Adams asked Ms Dugdale what kind of election result it would take for her to step down.
Ms Dugdale said: "I'm not going to even countenance that until the next Scottish Parliament elections."