Scottish Remain supporters do not need to “cut and run for independence” because Jo Swinson is offering a way to stop Brexit, Willie Rennie has claimed.
The Scottish Lib Dem leader said that the rise of his party and defections from other Westminster parties was matching the increase in polling support for the SNP.
Ahead of his speech to the party conference in Bournemouth today, Rennie said the new Lib Dem policy of cancelling Brexit without a second referendum was a clear message of hope to Remainers.
Rennie, who has denied his to keep out SNP MPs at next election, said: “The rise in support for independence is coming from Remainers. People are desperate to stop Brexit and now they are flirting with the SNP.
“But our proposition shows the Lib Dems have a credible alternative, and there is hope in the United Kingdom because the country is more strongly pro-European than it has ever been.
“When you are about to lose something, people really value it.
“I am urging people who voted against independence the last time round and are looking for a way out of Brexit to come with us and be part of that movement across the UK that is going to stop Brexit.”
He added: “I’m saying don’t cut and run.
"People are looking for some hopeful alternative to Brexit. We offer that.”
