Mr Yousaf is setting out his election strategy this morning (Image: Getty)
Humza Yousaf is hoping to create a “Tory-free Scotland” in his election campaign even as the SNP is hammered in the polls. The First Minister is expected to make the call at the launch of his General Election campaign this morning.
However, his party has been wracked by controversial policy, an investigation into its finances and the resignation of his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon.
There are currently seven Tory MPs in Scotland, all targeted by the SNP to win over voters, with one already standing down.
The SNP are believed to be confident they can win Douglas Ross’s current seat in Moray, as the Scottish Tory leader leaves his post.
Powered By
00:00/01:29
10
10
DX Kate Garraway could sell ￡4million home (1)
Share
Next
Stay
READ MORE Penny Mordaunt mocks SNP over ‘quest for total incompetence’ in Commons takedown
Stay up-to-date with the latest Politics news Join us on WhatsApp Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
They will also be targeting other seats in the North East and Scottish Borders currently held by Conservatives.
Mr Yousaf is expected to say at today’s event: “Today I want to tell you how, together, we can get the best outcome for the country. The first step we take towards a brighter future must be to kick the Tories out.
“Let’s be absolutely clear here: Rishi Sunak is finished. The Tories are done – thank goodness. The damage they have caused to Scotland is unforgivable and this year we must take the opportunity to kick them out of Scotland completely.”
He will add that the SNP is “by far” the best-placed party to remove the Tories from Scotland. In each of the Conservative seats up for grabs, the SNP is believed to be coming in second place.
“Today I am setting an ambition for the SNP to wipe the Tories from Scotland’s electoral map by winning all six of those Tory seats,” Yousaf is set to say. "That is a big ask, but I don’t believe you go into elections unless you are willing to be ambitious.
“It’s also the case that in more than half of the SNP-held seats, it is the Tories who are in second place. So, to people right across the country, our message will be very clear: vote SNP for a Tory-free Scotland.”
Don't miss...
Humza Yousaf forced into humiliating u-turn on Scottish XL Bully ban [REVEAL]
SNP attack over Post Office scandal blown apart by one simple fact [INSIGHT]
Humza Yousaf makes 'significant' Scottish independence admission [ANALYSIS]
Become an Express Premium member Support fearless journalism Read The Daily Express online, advert free Get super-fast page loading
Start 30-day
FREE trial
The General Election is not expected to be held until the “second half” of this year. Rishi Sunak said it was his “working assumption” that this would be the appropriate time. Incoming boundary changes will reduce the number of contested seats in Scotland to 57, rather than 59.
Mr Ross’s current seat will see some changes and take in additional areas of Inverness, Nairn, and Badenoch. It will also take in the Strathspey constituency that has been held by the SNP for nine years.
Mr Yousaf has vowed that a vote for the SNP is a “vote for Scottish independence” on the first line of the party’s manifesto.
Scottish Labour - a Unionist party - could be a threat to the SNP however, as polls show a boost in support for this contender to Holyrood.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Tories face 'worst election since 1997' as new poll reveals huge Labour majority
1190 Comments
Humza Yousaf ruthlessly mocked over claim independence could make Scots ￡10k better off
141 Comments
SNP MP admits independence is 'over' if they lose election as Yousaf pleads for voters
52 Comments
Humza Yousaf nightmare as devastating new poll shows SNP faces losing 24 MPs
350 Comments
Hope for Rishi Sunak as shock analysis shows Labour needs to break records to win
17 Comments
Labour enter ‘next phase' of election campaign after devastating poll for Tories
119 Comments
The Rwanda bill is do-or-die for Rishi Sunak, says Tim Newark
6 Comments
Rishi Sunak's top advisor blasts Lord Frost for 'undermining Tories' with shocking poll
101 Comments
Humza Yousaf begs bus tycoon for help with SNP donations dwindling
517 Comments
Nigel Farage issues stark warning Tories have no idea what is 'coming down track'
489 Comments
Richard Tice does not just have to save Britain from the Tories - Jonathan Saxty
30 Comments
Rishi Sunak to deploy last-ditch secret weapon with career on knife-edge over crunch vote
17 Comments
Penny Mordaunt mocks SNP over ‘quest for total incompetence' in House of Commons takedown
124 Comments
Rishi Sunak's nightmare start to election year with first poll confirming Tory wipeout
152 Comments
'Obsessed' Humza Yousaf makes bonkers independence speech in face of SNP election defeat
133 Comments
Andrew Neil rips into Humza Yousaf for 'most absurd speech by politician of recent memory'
323 Comments
Hapless Humza Yousaf forced into humiliating U-turn on XL Bully ban after weeks of delay
63 Comments
Humza Yousaf accused of having 'no bearing on reality' with fresh Brexit swipe
375 Comments
Humza Yousaf makes 'significant' Scottish independence admission in live TV interview
43 Comments
'Embarrassing and telling!' Hundreds of Scottish civil servants pay lower tax in England
130 Comments
Tories face 'worst election since 1997' as new poll reveals huge Labour majority
1190 Comments
Humza Yousaf ruthlessly mocked over claim independence could make Scots ￡10k better off
141 Comments
SNP MP admits independence is 'over' if they lose election as Yousaf pleads for voters
52 Comments
Humza Yousaf nightmare as devastating new poll shows SNP faces losing 24 MPs
350 Comments
Hope for Rishi Sunak as shock analysis shows Labour needs to break records to win
17 Comments
Labour enter ‘next phase' of election campaign after devastating poll for Tories
119 Comments
The Rwanda bill is do-or-die for Rishi Sunak, says Tim Newark
6 Comments
Rishi Sunak's top advisor blasts Lord Frost for 'undermining Tories' with shocking poll
101 Comments
Humza Yousaf begs bus tycoon for help with SNP donations dwindling
517 Comments
Nigel Farage issues stark warning Tories have no idea what is 'coming down track'
489 Comments
Richard Tice does not just have to save Britain from the Tories - Jonathan Saxty
30 Comments
Rishi Sunak to deploy last-ditch secret weapon with career on knife-edge over crunch vote
17 Comments
Penny Mordaunt mocks SNP over ‘quest for total incompetence' in House of Commons takedown
124 Comments
Rishi Sunak's nightmare start to election year with first poll confirming Tory wipeout
152 Comments
'Obsessed' Humza Yousaf makes bonkers independence speech in face of SNP election defeat
133 Comments
Andrew Neil rips into Humza Yousaf for 'most absurd speech by politician of recent memory'
323 Comments
Hapless Humza Yousaf forced into humiliating U-turn on XL Bully ban after weeks of delay
63 Comments
Humza Yousaf accused of having 'no bearing on reality' with fresh Brexit swipe
375 Comments
Humza Yousaf makes 'significant' Scottish independence admission in live TV interview
43 Comments
'Embarrassing and telling!' Hundreds of Scottish civil servants pay lower tax in England
130 Comments
Tories face 'worst election since 1997' as new poll reveals huge Labour majority
1190 Comments
Humza Yousaf ruthlessly mocked over claim independence could make Scots ￡10k better off
141 Comments
SNP MP admits independence is 'over' if they lose election as Yousaf pleads for voters
52 Comments
Humza Yousaf nightmare as devastating new poll shows SNP faces losing 24 MPs
350 Comments
Hope for Rishi Sunak as shock analysis shows Labour needs to break records to win
17 Comments
Labour enter ‘next phase' of election campaign after devastating poll for Tories
119 Comments
The Rwanda bill is do-or-die for Rishi Sunak, says Tim Newark
6 Comments
Trending
A November poll by Stonehaven found the SNP is on course to lose up to 33 of the 48 seats it won at the 2019 general election in this year’s contest. Bookmakers are also predicting Mr Yousaf is odds-on to be replaced as First Minister this year.
Craig Hoy, the Scottish Tory chairman, said: “The Scottish public are sick and tired of the independence-obsessed SNP ignoring their real priorities.
“Voters know that the only way to shift the focus onto the issues that matter to them – and shut the door on Humza Yousaf’s independence plan for good – is to unseat SNP MPs. And, as Humza Yousaf points out, in swathes of constituencies across the country, only the Scottish Conservatives can do that.”
Related articles Humza Yousaf accused of having 'no bearing on reality' with fresh Brexit swipe Humza Yousaf delivers brutal 'slap in face' to victims as 1.4k crooks walk free Andrew Neil rips into Humza Yousaf for 'most absurd speech' David Cameron sparks laughter from MPs after blunt one-word swipe from SNP SNP proposes 'seven years in jail' for parents who refuse kids' gender change