ARE the Tories trying to change their name?

That’s what the SNP are claiming after the Electoral Commission received an application from the Tories asking to use the phrase “Local Conservatives” in their election literature.

Keith Brown, the SNP’s depute leader, said this seemed like an attempt to put some distance between candidates and Theresa May.

READ MORE: Scottish Tories move to stop Scotland having role in post-Brexit trade negotiations

“This is a really desperate move by the Tories,” he said. “They clearly recognise Theresa May’s toxicity and they are trying to dupe the public by distancing future candidates from their own central party.

“The Tories are the architects of Brexit chaos, have caused untold misery to vulnerable people across the country with cuts to welfare, the introduction of the rape clause and the cruel hostile environment policy.

“People in Scotland will see right through this charade”.

But a spokesman for the Scottish Tories said there were no plans to ditch their moniker north of the Border: “We currently use the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party description, and will continue to do so,” he said.

“As recent elections have proved, Scottish voters are more than happy to back a party in that name.”