Douglas Ross labels Labour leadership candidates ‘fair weather Unionists’

Douglas Ross has labelled the Labour leadership candidates “fair weather Unionists” as he launches the Scottish Tory election message.

The leader of the Scottish Conservatives will today demand Monica Lennon and Anas Sarwar both rule out working with the SNP and accused them of being willing to betray voters over a second independence referendum.

Making a speech this morning, the Moray MP will accused Labour of being half-hearted on the constitution.

He will say: “Either Monica Lennon will make the SNP’s arguments for them or Anas Sarwar will tell the SNP ‘not today but tomorrow is fine’ for your indyref2.

“People who want to stop an SNP majority are not looking for someone who might turn around and betray them to prop up the SNP after the election.

“The Scottish Conservatives will never work with any party that is taking forward a divisive referendum to break up the UK.

“Labour’s new leader will not rule out working with the SNP. They can’t.

“Their new leader, whoever it is, has a choice to make because voters are not looking for fair weather unionists who might change direction like a weather vane after the 6 May election.

“We will never say that dividing our nation, pitting families and friends against one another and all the bile and anger that this brings is right for Scotland.

“We will always stand for up for strengthening the ties that bind our UK together and for our politics being focused on the things that really matter, on the challenges that Scotland faces today.”

He will also reveal the Scottish Conservative campaign message that will appear on the ballot paper - “End Division. No Referendum. Rebuild Scotland.”

Mr Ross’s speech will claim the upcoming election is a chance to “reject division and another referendum in favour of securing Scotland’s economic recovery".

Once again dismissing another referendum, the Scottish Tory leader will insist the people of Scotland want a focus on domestic issues instead.

He will say: “Both the division of coronavirus, that has kept us apart for much of the past year, and the division of the constitution, that has split our country for more than a decade now.

“In this coming election, people aren’t looking for a radical overhaul of how our country is run.

“They just want to stop this drive towards another divisive referendum, so that they can get on with rebuilding their careers and businesses, renewing their ties with dearly missed families and friends, and getting their lives back.

“They want the focus to be on restoring our public services. On creating jobs. On bringing people together to face the massive challenges that are in front of us right now.

“We can reject division and another referendum in favour of securing Scotland’s economic recovery.

“Independence is not inevitable. An SNP majority can be stopped. A Covid-referendum can be blocked.

“To keep our recovery from this virus on track, we must deliver a Scottish Parliament and government 100 per cent focused on beating coronavirus and rebuilding our country.”

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