HUMZA Yousaf's plan for independence hinges on a "sleekit backroom deal" with Labour, the deputy leader of the Scottish Tories has claimed. 

Addressing the Scottish Tory conference, Meghan Gallacher claimed Labour would be “weak on the Union” if Keir Starmer does not win an outright majority in the next General Election.

Yousaf has already made clear that the powers to hold a second independence referendum would be the price he would demand if his party is needed to prop up a Labour administration.

And Starmer's Labour have made a point of repeatedly ruling out any deal with the SNP, saying they would challenge the party not to back them at Westminster if the Tories were the alternative.

Instead of planning for a second vote on Scotland’s place in the UK, Gallacher said the SNP’s independence plans should be “scrapped altogether”, saying the governing party in Scotland should be focused on the “real priorities” of voters.

Gallacher said: “At the heart of this plan is a sleekit backroom deal with Labour to demand indyref2 – as the price of SNP support for a Keir Starmer Government.

“Humza Yousaf would never in his wildest dreams expect any Conservative government to barter away the future of our country.

“That is because the SNP suspect what we already know – Labour are weak on the Union.”

Having returned from maternity leave earlier this year, Gallacher said: “I would trust my new-born child with our vital public services before I trusted Humza Yousaf’s government.”

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She claimed the SNP had “given up on running our country” adding that “we used to say that they were incompetent now we say they are incapable”.

Speaking about the former first minister, the Tory MSP claimed Sturgeon had “lost everything” including “any credibility she had during her time in office”.

The Scottish Tory added: “Her legacy is nothing more than division and secrecy. She leaves office in disgrace.”

The SNP leadership election resulted in Yousaf – who Gallacher branded “Hapless Humza” – becoming both SNP leader and Scottish First Minister.

With the SNP “falling apart before our very eyes” she insisted it was the Conservatives who could offer voters an alternative.

Seeking to contrast the Tories with the SNP, Gallacher said her party was “bursting with ideas and ready to take those ideas and our positive vision to the country”.

She stated: “The Scottish people are looking for anyone to deliver fresh solutions to the old and new challenges our country faces.

“They know that this SNP government is falling apart before our very eyes.”