Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson dismisses party's poll dip
Ruth Davidson tells Sky News the prospect of Jeremy Corbyn in Downing Street will focus voters' minds ahead of polling day.
Sunday 28 May 2017 16:22, UK
Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson has dismissed the party's fall in support in opinion polls as something that "always happens" in election campaigns.
Ms Davidson told Sky News the prospect of Jeremy Corbyn in Downing Street with John McDonnell as Chancellor and Diane Abbott as Home Secretary would focus voters' minds ahead of polling day on 8 June.
Several recent polls have shown the Tories' lead shrinking, including one which put Theresa May's party just six points clear.
An ORB survey for the Sunday Telegraph had the Conservatives down two points in the past week, on 44%, six points ahead of Labour on 38% (up four points).
This equals Labour's best rating since Mr Corbyn became leader and if borne out on election day would see him comfortably outperform Ed Miliband in 2015 and Gordon Brown in 2010.
Ms Davidson told Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "As a veteran of six Scottish or UK wide elections and two referenda the narrowing of the polls always happens around this time and it focuses people's minds.
"People at home will be thinking actually in two weeks time Jeremy Corbyn could be in charge of the country, Diane Abbott could be the home secretary charged with keeping us safe, John McDonnell might be in charge of your pay packet."
She added: "Theresa May is Prime Minister, I hope she continues as Prime Minister, in three weeks' time the first day of negotiations for Brexit are going to happen and we will either be led by Theresa May or Jeremy Corbyn.
"And I absolutely, seven days a week, twice on a Sunday, think Theresa May is the best person in that job.
"There is a big issue that's happening, it's not going to be easy the Brexit negotiations but it absolutely requires the right people to take us in there because the difference between a good deal and a bad deal will affect all of us in this country.
"I honestly don't know what Jeremy Corbyn's policies for Brexit are, I've never heard him stand up in a speech and read them out, I've never heard him say what he wants to pursue.
"He could be prime minister in two weeks time and I don't know what he would do on Brexit and neither does the country."
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale told Sky News Mr Corbyn was an asset to Labour "because of the platform he's standing on".
She said: "What we've got is a radical Labour manifesto with a plan to transform this country and right at the heart of that manifesto is a plan to raise living standards.
"Only the Labour Party is offering that so those types of policies that are about lifting people up and helping them get on in life is right at the heart of what Jeremy Corbyn stands for."
On Brexit Ms Dugdale insisted there is a stark difference between her party and the Conservatives.
"First and foremost we say that we would guarantee the rights of EU nationals living in the UK," she said.
"That's incredibly important here in Scotland where so many of them work in the NHS and our universities.
"Secondly we've said we would rip up the Great Repeal Act to focus instead on jobs and the economy, making sure that we can protect workers' rights."