Many in UK Government ‘want to focus on England’ at expense of rest of union says Scottish Tory leader
Many in the UK Government want to “focus on England” at the expense of the rest of the union, according to the Scottish Tory leader.
MP Douglas Ross made the comments during his speech at the Conservative Party’s virtual conference on Saturday.
“The case for separation is now being made more effectively in London than it ever could in Edinburgh,” he said.
“Defeatism and disinterest towards the future of the union is rife. Too many treat Scottish independence as a question of when, not if.
“They question why Scottish interests should be put first, if Scotland won’t always be around. Many, including some who govern our country, want to see a UK Government focused on England.
“We pretend these are the views of only a small minority, but I hear them far too often.
“If you think this way, ask yourself a question – whose side are you on? If you think Scotland’s place in the UK isn’t worth the fight, then you’re in the wrong party.
“Far too many Conservatives in England have forgotten that unionism is in our party’s DNA.
“And independence would shatter the image of our United Kingdom. Instead of a global Britain, there would be a little England.
“My party, the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, is not going to give in, not now, not ever.”
‘Nonsensical’
SNP depute Leader Keith Brown said that the fact that Douglas Ross is openly talking about ‘defeatism’ “says it all”
“He is rattled by the opinion polls and floundering around desperately for a coherent argument for keeping together a union that continues to fail Scotland,” he said.
“His latest ramblings are even more nonsensical than normal. Far from devolving and forgetting about Scotland, his masters in London are attempting the absolute opposite by trying to claw back powers from the people of Scotland with their disastrous and illegal UK Internal Market Bill.
“Ross knows independence is becoming the settled will of the Scottish people and no amount of hollow words will prevent Scotland getting the chance to choose a better future with independence.”
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