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General election 2017: Scotland's political leaders step up their campaigns General election 2017: Scotland's political leaders step up their campaigns
(about 1 hour later)
Scotland's political leaders are stepping up their general election campaigns, with exactly a month to go until polling day.Scotland's political leaders are stepping up their general election campaigns, with exactly a month to go until polling day.
Ruth Davidson will officially launch the Scottish Conservatives campaign in Edinburgh while Kezia Dugdale will do likewise for Labour in Rutherglen.Ruth Davidson will officially launch the Scottish Conservatives campaign in Edinburgh while Kezia Dugdale will do likewise for Labour in Rutherglen.
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron will be in Scotland to congratulate his party's newly-elected councillors. Lib Dem leader Tim Farron is in Scotland to congratulate his party's newly-elected councillors.
And Nicola Sturgeon will join SNP candidates in Perthshire. And Nicola Sturgeon has joined SNP candidates in Perthshire.
The SNP hailed last week's council elections as a victory after the party won 431 seats, more than any other single party.The SNP hailed last week's council elections as a victory after the party won 431 seats, more than any other single party.
But a surge in support for the Scottish Conservatives saw them end the day with a record 276 councillors, more than double the 115 they secured five years ago.But a surge in support for the Scottish Conservatives saw them end the day with a record 276 councillors, more than double the 115 they secured five years ago.
Ms Sturgeon will tell voters in Perth that Tory gains came from Labour rather than her party, and warn that "the Tory mask" has slipped in recent days. Speaking as she visited a brewery in Perth, Ms Sturgeon said any Conservative MPs elected on 8 June would simply be a "standard bearer for Tory cuts", while her party's MPs would "stand up for Scotland against an increasingly right-wing Tory government".
She is expected to say: "Theresa May's extraordinary attacks on our European partners demonstrate that an unchecked Tory government is prepared to pursue a chaotic hard Brexit if it is in the interests of the Tory Party, whatever the cost to Scotland." And she said that SNP MPs would "put Scotland's future in Scotland's hands, not Theresa May's, not the Tories' and not Westminster's" and that "only the people of Scotland should determine the future of our country".
Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson has challenged her party to redouble efforts over the next month. Ms Sturgeon added: "For those who want a stronger, fairer Scotland - and MPs who will speak up loud and clear against the Tories - then that can only be delivered by voting for the SNP on June 8th."
She said: "Just as we doubled our numbers of MSPs last year, and doubled our number of councillors last week, we now we have to double our efforts over these next four-and-a-half weeks." Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has challenged her party to redouble efforts over the next month, saying it had a "massive fight on our hands against an all-powerful SNP."
'Two horse race' Ms Davidson added: "Across Scotland, it's a two-horse race. And across Scotland, we also know people are looking for somebody to stand up to the SNP.
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale will tell voters in Rutherglen they can "send a message" to Ms Sturgeon by backing Labour. "So our challenge is this - it's to bring the SNP down to size. To show they can't take Scotland for granted."
Elsewhere, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale will tell voters in Rutherglen they can "send a message" to Ms Sturgeon by backing Labour.
She said: "The council elections showed people are turning away from the SNP, because they are fed up with the Nationalists' attempt to force another divisive referendum.She said: "The council elections showed people are turning away from the SNP, because they are fed up with the Nationalists' attempt to force another divisive referendum.
"In seats like Rutherglen and Hamilton West, and in most areas across Scotland, it's a two horse race between Labour and the SNP. The only way to stop the nationalists is to vote Labour.""In seats like Rutherglen and Hamilton West, and in most areas across Scotland, it's a two horse race between Labour and the SNP. The only way to stop the nationalists is to vote Labour."
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron is bringing his campaign bus to Scotland as the party targets constituencies such as East Dunbartonshire and Edinburgh West.Lib Dem leader Tim Farron is bringing his campaign bus to Scotland as the party targets constituencies such as East Dunbartonshire and Edinburgh West.
Mr Farron said: "In this election people have a straight choice. They can reward Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond by sending another SNP cheerleader for independence to Westminster.Mr Farron said: "In this election people have a straight choice. They can reward Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond by sending another SNP cheerleader for independence to Westminster.
"Or voters can opt for a local Lib Dem champion who will reject independence, oppose a damaging hard Brexit and advocate for investment in mental health and education.""Or voters can opt for a local Lib Dem champion who will reject independence, oppose a damaging hard Brexit and advocate for investment in mental health and education."