May says Corbyn election victory 'could happen' as she warns over voter complacency
Mrs May says recent polls have been wrong as she urges her supporters to vote or risk the real prospect of a Labour government.
Sunday 30 April 2017 05:59, UK
Theresa May has urged her supporters in Scotland to get out and vote, warning against complacency because of her huge poll advantage over Jeremy Corbyn.
During a visit to Aberdeenshire, she called the General Election on 8 June the most important of her lifetime.
"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," she said.
Opinion polls suggest the Conservatives have a double-digit lead over Labour, which could have its worst election showing in decades.
But the election still carries a risk for Mrs May, with voters potentially weary after voting last year in the EU referendum and two years ago in the General Election.
Mrs May pointed out that recent polls had been wrong: in 2015, when they failed to predict an outright Tory majority, and before the Brexit referendum, when they predicted a Remain victory.
"Every SNP MP who is elected to Westminster puts a step closer Jeremy Corbyn getting into Downing Street," she said.
"Make no mistake, it could happen."
Mrs May accused Labour, the Lib Dems and Nicola Sturgeon's SNP of trying to stop the path toward Brexit.
"They want to disrupt our Brexit negotiations, undermine the task ahead and stop us from taking Britain forward," she said.
Mrs May's visit came as EU leaders met to , with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker saying Britain "underestimates" the complexity of the talks.
In a busy day of campaigning, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon also held a rally and urged voters not to allow Scotland to be "dragged back by the Tories" at the election.
Speaking in the east end of Glasgow, the First Minister said a vote for the SNP would deliver a "strong voice for Scotland" and ensure "real and effective opposition" in the House of Commons.
She said the Conservatives must not be given a "free hand to do whatever they want to Scotland".
The Tories are styling themselves as the party to preserve the union, while the SNP wants a second Scottish independence referendum.
The Conservatives could be on course for an improved showing in Scotland. A YouGov poll indicates they will win eight seats in Scotland - up from a single seat.
The poll also puts the SNP at 47 seats, down from the current 54.