THE Scottish Tories are to focus on tactical voting in the final stretch of the election, urging people to stop an independence referendum.

The party will warn “the Union is on the ballot paper” after Nicola Sturgeon said she would interpret every vote for the SNP as approval for Indyref2.

Acting Scottish Tory leader Jackson Carlaw said he was asking the supporters of all parties worried about the Union to “lend their vote” to the Conservatives.

He last week said Ms Sturgeon’s pledge of a “once in a generation” vote in 2014 should mean there was not another referendum for 40 years.

Boris Johnson has also “guaranteed” that he would block the First Minister’s imminent request for referendum powers, suggesting he would rather lose power than agree to it.

Mr Carlaw said: “There are ten days left before polls open on December 12th. What is clear for voters in Scotland is that the Union will be on the ballot paper.

“Nicola Sturgeon has calculated that next year is her best chance to get a referendum on independence.”

“And if Jeremy Corbyn is standing outside Number Ten on December 13th, she knows she will be pushing at an open door.”

Remain campaigner Gina Miller, whose legal cases gave MPs a say on Brexit and helped end the unlawful suspension of parliament, urged people to vote tactically to prevent a Tory majority.

She told Sky News said: “With no tactical voting.... there would be a 12-seat majority for the Conservatives.”

“What we’re doing is we’re giving people recommendations. [We did] polling on tactical voting intentions and we’re finding it is staying stable for about 45% of Remain and soft Leave voters saying that they intend to tactically vote.”