Scot Tories ‘will ask Yes voters to leave party’

THE Scottish Conservatives have confirmed that any member who voices support for Scottish independence will be asked to surrender their party membership.

Ruth Davidson said that the Scottish Tories were the only party 'standing up for the union'. Picture: Neil Doig

Just days after the leaders of the Scottish Liberal Democrats and Scottish Labour said that party members would be free to back a Yes vote, a Scottish Tories spokesperson reiterated Ruth Davidson’s statement that ‘only the Scottish Conservatives will stand up for the Union.’

The spokesperson added: “It wouldn’t really be in anyone’s interests for a pro-independence supporter to be a member of the Scottish Conservative and UInionist Party.”

According to a BuzzFeed article, the Scottish Tories would push for ‘an amicable parting of ways’ if any party members or parliamentarians publicly came out in favour of independence.

The spokesperson added that the party was ‘passionately pro-UK’.

Some Conservative members did vote Yes in the referendum, with former Tory MSP Nick Johnston publicly declaring support for independence in December 2013, while prominent Tory businessman and party donor Laurie Clark also voted Yes.

Former Tory councillor Peter de Vink, who now stands as an independent, also backed a Yes vote in the historic referendum.

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