DOUGLAS Ross has defended the Scottish Tories mentioning the SNP more than once per page in their manifesto.
We told on Monday how the new manifesto – launched by Ross and Rishi Sunak in Edinburgh – mentions the SNP directly 88 times across its 76 pages.
The SNP hit out at the Scottish Tories for their “obsession with the SNP” and Ross was forced to confront the issue on an interview with Good Morning Scotland.
During the interview, Ross hit out at the SNP for dedicating “the entire first page of their manifesto to separating Scotland from the rest of the UK”.
Host Gary Robertson then replied to tell Ross that the Scottish Tory manifesto also frequently mentioned independence and the SNP.
“It’s not something that you’re shying away from either,” Ross was told.
The Scottish Tory leader then interrupted as the host attempted to move on to another topic and said: “Gary, just on that, we’re highlighting it because all of these other real priorities are being ignored by the SNP’s obsession with independence.”
It was then put to Ross that the Scottish Tory manifesto also said there would be no second referendum on independence.
Robertson said: “There’s a lack of democracy there, isn’t there?”
The Scottish Tory leader replied: “Well, no, I am the leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
“We believe in Scotland’s place in the United Kingdom but what we’ve had since the referendum in 2014 is a decade of division.
“Scotland has not moved on from that referendum. We were told by the SNP and all nationalists that they would accept the result. The result was a clear resounding victory for No.”
He was then told that the Tories have had fighting against independence “front and centre” of every election campaign since 2014.
“Because we are responding to what the SNP are doing,” Ross said.
“And John Swinney (above) said not only that independence is at the heart of his government, that he is leading now and has been part of for the last seven years, not only that every SNP minister regardless of their portfolio is a minister for independence, but they dedicated their entire front page of their manifesto to separating Scotland from the rest of the United Kingdom.
“I think that’s the wrong priority for people across Scotland which is why I’m focusing on the NHS, improving our schools, making Scotland’s streets safer. These are all the issues coming up day after day, time after time on the doorstep.”
Ross continued to say that both sides said they would respect the result of the 2014 referendum.
Host Robertson then put it to Ross that the Scottish Tories could be seen as being “obsessed with the Union”.
