The Scottish Conservatives need to out message the SNP to win

The polls are out and it’s bad news for unionists. The SNP are riding a wave of popularity with voters saying they think Nicola Sturgeon has handled coronavirus better than Boris Johnson. This is most likely because of a hollowed out left wing media failing to report effectively on the SNPs horrendous failings and a seemingly tired opposition. If the tories want to stop independence and win power, they need to out message the SNP.

So what does this mean? Well first of all, the Conservatives need to seriously up their game on social media, posting about the facts. In Wales, the Welsh Conservatives are using social media to hit out at Labour’s failings and Jackson Carlaw must use the power of Facebook to educate voters on care homes and more. To win, they must hammer home the failings in schools, hospitals, policing and the economy, issues that will be central to the 2021 Hollyrood elections. The SNP’s record is abhorrent.

Now they must avoid telling voters what to vote against. They need to ensure their messaging is also presenting the positive Conservative vision for Scotland and what it is the UK government is and has been delivering for Scotland before and after the pandemic. Boris Johnson must also do his bit by ensuring any infrastructure projects are branded “paid for by the UK government” so Scottish voters know who is actually delivering for them.

There is also an argument for tactical voting. Labour is all but dead in Scotland which could work to our advantage. By convincing the blue collar, anti-independence Labour voters to lend their votes to Jackson Carlaw, several marginals could fall to us. If we can exploit the pro union voters from across the political spectrum, the SNP will face a difficult challenge. What we need in Scotland is a blue collar revolution.

The SNP are an organised force who have their messaging down to a tee. We must match and overtake them if the Conservatives are to stop independence and, for the first time, win power in Scotland.

Owen Edwards

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