They did come close in 2021, but the Scottish Conservatives after Liz Truss, whom Sharon Dowey, above, supported enthusiastically, and now facing a near extinction event in May, are so far behind that their claim above is frankly laughable.

Things have changed. Look at all the opinion polls since the beginning of 2026.

At best, they’re coming in 4th, 25 points behind the SNP. In two of the polls, they’re even 5th, behind the Lib Dems or the Greens!

Now I know there are local variations but in the Ipsos poll in 25 February, in the South Scotland region, they look like coming in 3rd at best, 12 points behind the SNP and then Reform UK. https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2026-03/Scottish%20Political%20Monitor%20Tables%20March%202026.pdf

Here’s the real message – Only the SNP can keep those monsters, Reform UK, out!