Tory hopeful Murdo Fraser: We can kill independence

ScottiSH Tory leadership candidate Murdo Fraser will outline plans to “kill independence” and “break the SNP” at his campaign launch next week.

Mr Fraser will officially launch his bid to replace current leader Annabel Goldie by outlining his vision of “New Unionism” at a campaign event in Edinburgh on Monday.

He is expected to say: “If Alex Salmond really believed in his own message, he would put his money where his mouth is and have a single-question referendum. No second question. No Salmond cop-out. Separation, yes or no.

“Then we can move on. We can be positive about Scotland and positive about the United Kingdom. We can kill independence, and break the SNP.”

However, Mr Fraser was warned to “reconsider his language” by senior SNP MSP Stewart Maxwell who described the Scottish Tory deputy leader’s comments as “ill judged”.

Mr Maxwell said: “Perhaps someone in the Tories can tell us, if Murdo Fraser wins will fiscal devolution become the policy of David Cameron or even the sole Scots Tory MP David Mundell.

“The truth is the Scottish Tories can argue for whatever they like but for as long as their MP colleagues support the subsidy myth and continue their perjorative attacks on Scotland the Tories will not change.

“Before he continues with his campaign Mr Fraser might want to reconsider his language. The last politician to threaten to ‘kill nationalism’ saw his party lose at this year’s elections and the public back a majority SNP government.”

Mr Fraser at Monday’s campaign launch is expected to state his support for a “new form of Unionism” which will provide greater financial devolution.

He will say: “I reject outright so-called ‘full fiscal freedom’ where all taxes are raised in Scotland and we pay money to Westminster for certain UK services such as defence – that is independence in disguise and advocating it is simply fighting Alex Salmond’s battles for him.

“But I strongly support the principles of financial devolution, where the Scottish Parliament is more responsible for the money it spends.”

Mr Fraser released details of his campaign launch on the eve of his leadership rival Jackson Carlaw’s own launch in Glasgow.

Mr Carlaw, who announced his intention to stand in the contest earlier this month, was expected to unveil a policy “designed to safeguard the Union”, and detail how he would develop election-winning policies.