THE UK Government has abandoned its responsibilities amid a cost-of-living crisis, focusing instead on in-fighting, the SNP have said.
The party contrasted the chaos at Westminster, which separately saw a prime minister, chancellor and home secretary all depart government in less than one week, with a Scottish Government “getting on with the day job”.
Tory MPs descended into yet another civil war after Liz Truss’s resignation on Thursday.
Battle lines were drawn as formerly defeated leadership candidates Penny Mordaunt and Rishi Sunak lined up against disgraced former prime minister Boris Johnson as he eyed a comeback from his Caribbean holiday.
SNP MSP Elena Whitham said the “boorach” in London had been “an affront to democracy and an insult to people across the UK”.
She went on: “It’s quite frankly scandalous that people across Scotland are expected to accept the shambles we see at Westminster as competent government when it is the exact opposite.
“We’ve not had a functioning Westminster government for so long now as the self-serving Tories ignore the crisis facing millions of people.
“If Westminster can’t provide a government that cares for its people – and that much is very clear – it is essential for Scotland to become independent so we can do it ourselves.”
The MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley further drew attention to the work which the SNP/Green government had been doing while the Tories looked to finish their second leadership contest in two months.
This included convening an energy cost crisis summit, opening a £65 million fund for drug support services, and offering NHS staff a “record pay rise” in a bid to strengthen the health service ahead of winter.
The SNP said that, far from being a functioning government, Westminster “remains mired in resignations, U-turns, in-fighting and economic vandalism”.
Whitham added: “While the Tory farce drags on, the SNP government has been getting on with the day job, taking action with the powers it has to improve the lives of people across Scotland. And if we had the full powers of independence, we could be doing so much more.
“With every day that passes, independence becomes increasingly essential for Scotland to escape the undemocratic, uncaring and unfit government we are being forced to suffer under Westminster control. It is the only way for Scotland to be properly and fairly governed.”
