NICOLA STURGEON accused Prime Minister Theresa May of calling a general election in order to “crush dissent” and “escape prosecution for election fraud against 30 Tory MPs.”

Addressing the Scottish TUC Congress, the First Minister said Ms May’s actions were cynical, and that “she is seeking to strengthen her own hand in delivering the kind of Brexit she wants.”

Ms Sturgeon said that “whatever the result, nothing must stop us from holding the Tories accountable for whatever misdemeanours they may have committed to buy the last general election.”