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Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Chris McCall

SNP 'blames England' for its problems, claims Tory leadership candidate Kemi Badenoch

A candidate to become the next Tory leader has claimed the SNP "blames England for injustices".

Kemi Badenoch today attacked Nicola Sturgeon's record in office and accused the Nationalists of delivering "lower educational standards" in Scotland and failing to improve the NHS.

The 42-year-old former minister was little known outside of Westminster until last week but is now one of five right-wing MPs bidding to replace Boris Johnson.

In an article for The Times, Badenoch said: "The UK is strong because it's a multi-national, multi-ethnic, multi- faith success story.

READ MORE : Tory leadership contest descends into an on-air slanging match

"Scotland is integral to that success and as prime minister I would champion Scotland's interests, its place in our UK and its amazing potential."

She added: "The SNP in power have delivered lower educational standards, with the gap between rich and poor in schools growing.

"They have failed to improve NHS performance with waiting times for cancer treatment rising.

"Violent crime is rising again and the SNP have screwed up Scotland's transport system, most notoriously proving themselves incapable of even delivering ferries for the islands.

"Scotland deserves so much better.

"It needs real change. A move away from the politics of division towards a new narrative of national unity.

"The SNP thrive on generating grievances and setting people against each other. They blame England for injustices rather than bringing Scots of every background together in a common endeavour."

SNP MP Alison Thewliss said it was a a “strange strategy” to tell the Scottish electorate they were wrong.

She added: “People vote for the SNP because we deliver for Scotland while the Tories impose a hard Brexit against our will, impose crippling austerity and sit on their hands during the cost-of-living crisis that they created.

“According to this ridiculous Trumpian logic, the only poll that doesn’t matter in Scotland is an election which the SNP has been winning for the last 15 years.”

Badenoch was born in the UK to Nigerian parents but grew up in the west African nation and the USA.

She returned to the UK aged 16 and completed a degree at Sussex University before taking a job at posh banking firm Coutts.

The Record reported last week how one SNP MP had challenged Badenoch to visit Scotland to see first hand the impact of Tory welfare cuts on society.

Kirsty Blackman said the Tory MP's bid to become the next Prime Minister "should concern everyone" after the pair previously clashed in the House of Commons over the issue.

Badenoch's campaign has been endorsed by Michael Gove and is winning admirers among Scottish Conservatives.

Blackman said the Tory had failed to respond to a letter in May inviting her to Aberdeen to see first hand the impact of Tory welfare policies.

It followed a lively exchange in the House of Commons in which the SNP MP for Aberdeen North asked the minister: "If the Conservative government is doing such wonderful things, how come my constituents can't afford to eat?"

Badenoch accused Blackman of being "disingenuous".

Blackman told the Record: "The idea that someone like Kemi Badenoch could soon be the new Prime Minister should concern everyone across these islands."

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