Theresa May vows to ensure Scotland and rest of UK ‘flourish together’

THERESA MAY has said she will work to ensure that Scotland and the UK “flourish together” as she made her first trip of the General Election campaign north of the border.

The Prime Minister told a rally she wants to build a more united nation by “standing up against the separatists who want to break up our country”.

She also claimed the opposition parties are lining up to “prop up” Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and warned that voting for the SNP puts Mr Corbyn closer to getting into Downing Street.

Asking voters to strengthen her hand in the Brexit negotiations, she urged the electorate: “Give me the mandate to lead Britain, give me the mandate to speak for Britain, give me the mandate to fight for Britain and give me the mandate to deliver for Britain.”

The Prime Minister addressed a gathering of supporters in Crathes, Aberdeenshire, as she sought to capitalise on her party’s growing backing north of the border.

Describing the election as the “most important” one in her lifetime, she said: “My message to the people of Scotland is clear – every vote for me and my team will strengthen my hand in the Brexit negotiations.

“That will strengthen the Union, strengthen the economy and the UK and Scotland together will flourish because if Scotland is flourishing the rest of the United Kingdom is flourishing too.

“That’s really important because as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, I want to see every part of our country succeed.”

She urged voters to back five years of “strong and stable” Conservative leadership and said: “My commitment is clear, that if you strengthen my hand in those Brexit negotiations, I will work to ensure that Scotland and the UK flourish together.”

Mrs May told the crowd: “Every vote for me and my team strengthens my hand in those negotiations. Every vote for me and my team is a vote for five years of strong and stable leadership to take us through Brexit and beyond. Every vote for me and my team is a vote for strong and stable leadership in the national interest.”

She also reiterated her warning against a “coalition of chaos led by Jeremy Corbyn”.

“That’s what’s on offer of course, because the other parties, they’re lining up to prop up Jeremy Corbyn,” she said.

“We see it from the Liberal Democrats and we see it from Nicola Sturgeon’s Scottish National Party.

“They want to disrupt our Brexit negotiations, undermine the task ahead, stop us from taking Britain forward.

“Every SNP MP who is elected to Westminster puts a step closer Jeremy Corbyn getting into Downing Street.

“They want to disrupt our Brexit negotiations by disrupting this election. And make no mistake, it could happen.”

Mrs May has previously turned down First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s call for a second independence referendum to try and protect Scotland’s status in the European single market.