THE SNP’s proposed new branding for the General Election is part of a strategy to convince Yes supporters to vote tactically, a senior party figure has said.
Toni Giugliano, the SNP's former policy convener who is standing to become Falkirk’s next MP, told The National that the proposed new logos and ballot names were aimed at uniting Scottish independence supporters behind the party in an effort to lock out the Conservatives.
On Tuesday, the SNP revealed its proposed new branding for a General Election, which prominently features the words “for independence” and “independence”.
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The changes, which will need to be approved by the Electoral Commission, came after the party’s conference called for the word independence to be added “to make it clear beyond doubt what’s at stake at this election”.
Polling has suggested that a decisive group of Scottish voters in the next General Election will be Yes supporters who do not back the SNP. The party is aiming to get that group on board.
Giugliano, who had proposed the resolution on the changes, said: “Obviously, we need to talk about independence and what independence will mean. It's powers for a purpose. It's powers to transform Scotland – and I think we need to be able to inspire in similar ways as we did in 2014.
“We need to win every vote and we need to get a clear independence message out there. The ballot paper is one way of doing it, but it's not the only way of doing it.”
The Conservatives have issued a call to Unionists to vote tactically in order to prevent the SNP from winning seats where it is seen as a straight fight between the two parties, such as in the Borders or the North East.
Asked if the independence branding was an effort by the SNP to do the same, inspiring all Yes supporters to vote for them tactically, Giugliano said: “Yes, that's right.
“The vast majority of people that I speak to on the doors can agree, regardless of policy differences, regardless of constitutional questions, most people can agree that we want the Tories out.
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“That's what people want, they want rid of this horrendous government. Therefore, as I say, in seats like mine, they will be looking at which party is best placed to defeat the Tories. In a seat like Falkirk, that's the SNP.
“That's why I've got Green supporters, I've got Alba supporters that will be voting for me – because they know that their parties cannot compete and cannot win.”
Falkirk is the SNP’s safest seat in Scotland, with current MP John McNally having won more than 50% of the vote in 2024.
Giugliano said that the SNP was looking to put independence “front and centre” of the General Election in a bid to appeal to the wider Yes support.
“I'm out canvassing regularly and there are independence supporters out there who are not traditional SNP voters – we've got a lot of work to do to ensure that we win their trust in this election,” he said.
“I would say to them, only the SNP can keep the Tories out and kick the Tories out of government and only the SNP can deliver independence.
“So, if the SNP suffers a setback in this election then the cause of independence suffers a setback.”
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