AN MP has invited Nicola Sturgeon to the Borders to explain her comments after she said she "detested" the Tories.
The First Minister made the jibe during a BBC interview on Sunday when discussing if she would rather have a Labour or Conservative government in Westminster. Sturgeon has since said she was talking about Tory values and policies rather than individuals or Tory voters – but added that she does not regret her choice of words.
Borders MP John Lamont has invited the First Minister to the region to “explain to local people why you detest many of us”.
In a letter to Sturgeon, Lamont – a Conservative representative for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk – said her comments were "incendiary" and "fuel hatred".
Lamont’s letter states: “Yes, we are political opponents. I will always campaign passionately for Scotland’s place in our United Kingdom. And I don’t doubt that you will continue to try and split up our country at every turn.
“But using language like you did at the weekend, that you “detest” Conservative voters, is dangerous. It is incendiary. It fuels hatred.
“A reckless statement like that lets down the people in my constituency and across Scotland who didn’t vote for the SNP.
“It is an insult to the 25,747 people in my constituency who voted Conservative at the most recent general election.”
It adds: “I don’t despise anyone who votes for another party. When people come to me for help, I ask what they need, not how they voted. I work hard for my local constituents no matter if they’re nationalist or unionist, SNP or Conservative.
“So I am writing to you today as the Member of Parliament for 25,747 people you despise – and as the Member of Parliament for everyone else in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk too.
“You are welcome to visit my constituency anytime to explain to local people why you detest many of us.”
In her interview on Sunday, Sturgeon said: “I detest the Tories and everything they stand for.”
She added that there needs to be “a more radical alternative from Labour, rather than just a pale imitation”.
Speaking after that interview, the First Minister said: “I was not referring to individuals or certainly not to people who vote Tory but I was referring to Tory policies and values that do a lot of damage.”
