A FORMER Tory advisor and MEP have given their backing to the SNP – ahead of tomorrow's vote.

Dr Bendor Grosvenor and Ian Dalziel have both said they will support Calum Kerr, who is standing in the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk constituency.

Dr Grosvenor, a prominent art historian and co-presenter of BBC4’s Britain’s Lost Masterpieces, joined the Conservatives in 1997 and was an advisor to Sir Hugo Swire – a former Foreign Office minister.

He told us: "As a former Conservative voter and advisor, I’ve watched in dismay as the party has drifted even further to the right in pursuit of a hard Brexit. It now has little to offer to voters who care about safeguarding our NHS, protecting the environment, and supporting the most vulnerable members of society.

"I’ve also been dismayed to see Scottish Conservative MPs doing nothing to protect Scotland’s interests over Brexit, despite holding the balance of power in the House of Commons. For that reason, I’m supporting Calum and the SNP, to help ensure that the voice of Scotland’s majority cannot be ignored again."

Former businessman, Ian Dalziel, served as a Tory MEP for the Lothians between 1979 and 1984.

He added: "Regardless of where you stand on independence for Scotland, I feel it is important to vote for the party which will best protect Scotland’s interests in Europe and fight against the divisive domestic policies of Boris Johnston’s Conservatives in Westminster.

"That is why I will be voting SNP on December 12."

Thanking the pair for their support, SNP candidate Mr Kerr said: "I’m thrilled to have the backing of both Ian and Bendor. It’s clear from the conversations I’ve had with them that they feel that the Conservative Party that they once knew just doesn’t exist anymore.

“When even lifelong Conservatives are making these points, you can imagine what we are hearing from Borders folk who have traditionally supported other parties. The centralised single-issue campaign by the Tories is not working.

"Voters realise that the SNP are offering a progressive agenda for change. It’s a vote to protect the Health Service from creeping privatisation, to retain our links with Europe and to end the era of Tory austerity. I think more and more people are concluding that that’s something worth voting for.

“Giving the Borders back its voice has become a rallying cry for people of all political persuasions.”