Scottish Tory leader backtracks on suggestion voters could back Labour

Douglas Ross amends proposal for tactical voting against SNP after fury from Tory central office

The Scottish Conservative leader, Douglas Ross, has backtracked on comments he made suggesting Conservative voters could vote Labour at the next general election in seats where Keir Starmer's party had a better chance of winning against the SNP.

Ross, who has said he will step down at the next election, had told the Telegraph that unionist voters should consider putting country above party and do what is best for the country" and support the strongest candidate to beat the SNP".