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‘Absurd’ that Liz Truss still hasn’t even called her or Mark Drakeford says Nicola Sturgeon

08 Oct 2022 3 minute read
First Minister Mark Drakeford. Picture by Ben Birchall / PA Wire. Liz Truss photo Joe Giddens, PA Wire. Nicola Sturgeon by the Scottish Government (OGL v1.0).

Nicola Sturgeon has said that it is “absurd” that Liz Truss still hasn’t even called her, the First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford or Northern Ireland’s Michelle O’Neill.

Both Mark Drakeford and Nicola Sturgeon have said that Boris Johnson, Theresa May and David Cameron all called them within days of taking office, but they are yet to hear from the new Prime Minister Liz Truss after over a month.

Nicola Sturgeon told ITV news that they had exchanged pleasantries during events to mark the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II but that the lack of an official meeting is “absurd”.

She said: “I’ll meet with her, I’ll speak to her, but let’s just underline how absurd it is that a UK Prime Minister doesn’t seem to want to work with – other than in rhetoric – the devolved administrations in the rest of the UK.

“I don’t know whether that is arrogance, lack of respect, or insecurity, or whatever it is. It’s not the right way to do Government in a grown up way.

“I hope we will see a change. I’ll do my best to work with Liz Truss as constructively as possible, or whoever comes after because we can’t take anything for granted in UK politics these days.

“I spoke to (the PM) David Cameron when I became First Minister within hours.

“I spoke to Theresa May and Boris Johnson shortly after they became prime minister. For reasons best known to herself, Liz Truss hasn’t engaged with the devolved administrations.”

‘So serious’

The Welsh Government has also been vocal about a lack of contact by Nicola Sturgeon, with Minister for social justice Jane Hutt saying this week that the situation was very concerning.

“I am extremely concerned,” she said.

“I don’t believe there has been a call to the First Minister yet by this Prime Minister. The First Minister recalled only last week in the chamber that he had calls from both previous Prime Ministers on the day they were elected – Boris Johnson and Theresa May.

“Perhaps he might get a call from the next Prime Minister, who takes this Prime Minister’s place. The situation is so serious, in terms of the impact of policies in Wales and can I just say again that Lis Truss today has refused to rule out real-term cuts in welfare benefits.”

The relationship will have deteriorated further when the Prime Minister accused Mark Drakeford and Nicola Sturgeon of being part of an “anti-growth coalition” in her first speech as leader.

“Mark Drakeford in Wales is cancelling road-building projects and refusing to build the M4 relief road”, Ms Truss said. “Nicola Sturgeon won’t build new nuclear power stations to solve the energy crisis in Scotland.

“Have these people ever seen tax rises they don’t like or an industry they don’t want to control? They don’t understand British people, they don’t understand aspiration.

“They are prepared to leave our towns and cities facing decline.”


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Ceramike
Ceramike
1 year ago

Why the new leader of the Tory party and now PM has failed to contact any of the leaders of the devolved parliaments truly makes no sense. It shows her unsuitability for the position she has on so many counts. Disrespect for those nations that are constituent parts of the UK will inevitably increase the demands for independence. As the Prime Minister of the UK its her first duty to represent all parts. She should be communicating directly with those democratically elected by the nations and regions people. That her own position, coming from a few members of her own… Read more »

David Zenati-Parsons
David Zenati-Parsons
1 year ago
Reply to  Ceramike

you’re obviously right Ceramike she’s doing a fine job for #IndyWales #IndyRef2 and #UnitedIreland and I think it’s deliberate.

Fi yn unig
Fi yn unig
1 year ago

Truss – bloody minded arrogance, ignorance and Empire supremacist abuse personified BUT this is surely going to ‘turbocharge’ (sorry, a silly overused word by the previous joker) all independence movements. A Tory PM winding down the Union in front of our very eyes by wanton vandalism. How delightful!

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
1 year ago

With Liz Truss being a sociopath not surprised at her disrespect shown not only towards SNP FM Nicola Sturgeon but she’s also hasn’t spoken to FM Mark Drakeford too. I think Truss is intimidated by Sturgeon, mainly because Scotland’s leader is way more intelligent & informed, not to mention she has a mandate from Scottish electorate where Truss has none. Anyway, Truss was gifted her job by a small minority of Conservative party members and will be regarded alongside Boris Johnson as one of the worse PMs in British political history not to mention the shortest. But at least Nicola… Read more »

David Smith
David Smith
1 year ago

Political differences be damed. Dizzy Liz is obviously as dumb as a stump to not gleam that as of now, the devolved parliaments exercise many functions of the British State, and it’s rather silly to not engage with them.

Frank
Frank
1 year ago
Reply to  David Smith

If England declared war on someone she would soon get in touch to enlist the Welsh, Scots and N. Irish to come to their aid to fight for their king and England.

Last edited 1 year ago by Frank
Windy
Windy
1 year ago

Doesn’t stumpy realise you reap what you sow

The Original Mark
The Original Mark
1 year ago

Why would she? as far as she’s concerned, she’s running the UK and what she says goes, end of. If this was the 1980’s there would be massive riots in the streets by now, just goes to show how subservient we’ve all become.

David Charles pearn
David Charles pearn
1 year ago

Yes we in the UK have become as weak as p..s there’s no fight left, price hikes just accepted wouldn’t happen in France.

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