Why Scotland could be the deciding factor in the next general election

Greg Hands said with the SNP ‘weakened’ by internal issues, the Conservatives could gain seats.

Scottish and English flags held up over Edinburgh, Scotland (PA Wire)

Scotland will be a key battleground in the next general election, Tory chairman Greg Hands said, adding that votes for the party north of the border could keep Sir Keir Starmer out of Downing Street.

With the SNP “weakened” amid the turmoil of the police investigation into its finance, Mr Hands said there is an opportunity for the Conservatives to gain seats in the next UK election, which is likely to be held next year.

He said the SNP has “a dedication to incompetence and mismanagement of public services and finances that even the Labour Party would envy”.