Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay is seeking to shore up his party’s vote in the Scottish Borders as he kicks off a tour on Wednesday.
Mr Findlay will join Galloway and West Dumfries candidate Finlay Carson in the seat before moving onto the neighbouring Dumfriesshire constituency later on Wednesday, before campaigning with Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire candidate Rachael Hamilton on Thursday.
The party holds all three of the seats, but the Tory leader said the SNP has “shamefully neglected” the Borders since taking office in 2007, highlighting road links in the area for particular scorn.
“South west Scotland relies on the A75 and A77 as lifelines for trade, tourism and to access key services – and it’s scandalous that the nationalists have broken their promises to upgrade them,” he said.
People in this area are sick of being ignored by the SNP
“Finlay Carson is a superb local champion who fights for his constituents and it will be great to campaign with him in Stranraer, as I tour the Scottish Conservative-held seats on the border with England.
“John Swinney is deadly serious about holding another independence referendum if he wins a majority, but voters in the south of Scotland can stop his constitutional chaos by voting Scottish Conservative on both of their ballot papers.”
Mr Carson added: “People in this area are sick of being ignored by the SNP.”
But the candidate’s SNP opponent in the seat, Emma Harper, said: “Only the SNP can stop Nigel Farage at the border and lock Reform out of Scottish politics.
“The Tories are a busted flush in the south of Scotland with polling showing this is a straight fight between the SNP and Reform here.
“John Swinney’s trusted and reliable leadership is the strongest vote to ensure that Reform has no place in our politics – nowhere is that more clear than in the Borders and across the south of Scotland.”
Scottish Lib Dem MP Wendy Chamberlain said: “Most of those who backed the Scottish Conservatives under Ruth Davidson are abandoning the party.
“If you are a former Conservative voter who believes Scotland deserves better, you should back Scottish Liberal Democrats on the peach regional ballot at this election.”
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “Communities right across Scotland feel let down and ignored by the SNP, but only Scottish Labour can deliver the change our country needs.
“A Scottish Labour government will deliver change for every part of Scotland – upgrading key roads, fixing the mess in our NHS and driving regional economic growth.”