Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, delivers a keynote speech on the economy in Edinburgh. Photo: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
Douglas Ross called on the Scottish National Party rebels to work with him to thwart the power-sharing agreement in Holyrood between their party and the extreme Scottish Greens.
The Scottish Tory leader said it was time for a group of high-profile SNP MPs frustrated by the Bute House Agreement's environmental policies to 'peace or shut up'.
He said they could count on his party's votes if they want to try to block the Greens' political agenda in the Scottish Parliament or an attempt to destroy the coalition agreement.
In a direct challenge to the group, he urged them to prioritize expelling «the Greens and their extremist policies from government» rather than «blind devotion to the nationalist cause.”
Outlining his party's new strategy to boost Scotland's influence due to sluggish economic growth, Mr Ross said they should accept his offer if they felt the Greens' policies were «damaging rural livelihoods and the communities they represent» .
He also said that next week's government program, Holyrood's version of the King of Westminster Speech, was Humza Yusaf's last chance to «come out of the shadow of his discredited predecessor.»
Nicola Sturgeon signed the Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens after the 2021 election, bringing them into government for the first time.
A poll published last week showed more Scots oppose the agreement than support it after many votes for an environmental policy focused on households, drivers and rural communities.
«Preached» on zero emissions
Kate Forbes, who narrowly lost to Mr Yousaf for the SNP leadership, told an Edinburgh Fringe event that her constituents in the Highlands had a «feeling they were being preached» about net zero.
< p>She argued that members of the Scottish National Party should be asked if they still supported the agreement, while Fergus Ewing, a former Scottish government minister, called the Greens «far left extremists who should never approach government».
Mr Ewing warned that the coalition agreement left the SNP «tarnished, damaged and weakened» after a failed attempt to set up a drink deposit refund scheme.
Many SNP politicians in the Highlands were deeply unhappy with plans to ban fishing fishing 10 per cent of Scotland's seas before they were delayed and remain frustrated at the slow pace at which the A9 between Perth and Inverness is duplicating.
SNP parliamentarians were also divided over Mr Yousaf's decision to go to court to defend Ms Sturgeon's gender laws on self-identification and his opposition to new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea. Both positions are strongly supported by the Scottish Greens.
Mr Ross said the First Minister was «the most passionate supporter of the Bute House Agreement» and suggested that the SNP would «willingly turn off the fork of its nationalist Coalition partners are for the birds.”
He said most SNP rebels «were all too happy to be on ministerial pay» working with the Greens in Ms Sturgeon's government «and despite their harsh words, they don't do it.» I will not act.”
For example, he said that only Mr. Ewing supported a vote of no confidence in Lorna Slater, the Scottish minister responsible for the failure of the deposit return scheme.
“So I'm telling these would-be rioters outright that it's time to put up or shut up. If they want to challenge any part of the green policy agenda, then they will have the support of the Scottish Conservative MPs,” he said.
“And if they want to vote against the Bute House Agreement, then they can count on the votes of the Scottish Conservatives.
He said a key test will take place next month, when the Tories plan to hold a vote in support of deferring Airbnb-style short-term rental licensing. Mr. Yousaf refused to extend the deadline until October 1, despite requests from property owners.
Mr. Ross added: “So let's see what these SNP rebels are made of. Are they going to put partisanship and independence ahead of small businesses that are stymied by their policies?»
«I don't hope» they will accept the offer
However, he admitted that he «doesn't» that they would accept his offer, predicting that they would «keep barking but showing no real teeth.»
The Scottish Tory strategy promised to stimulate the economy by collapsing personal and business taxes to at least the same level as south of the border.
Any resident of Scotland earning more than £27,850 pays more income tax than if he lived south of the border. Those who earn £50,000 pay an additional £1,500 a year.
However, Mr Ross did not specify when taxes would be cut again, nor did he elaborate on how he will fund this cut.
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Stuart Hosey, SNP Treasury spokesman in Westminster, said: “Voters across Scotland will see the irony in the comments of Douglas Ross – the party that brought you Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng – incoherent chatter about securing economic prosperity for Scotland.»
Ross Greer, financial spokesman for the Scottish Greens, said: «This is not an economic vision for Scotland, this is a rambling tribute to Liz Truss and her disastrous few weeks in office.»
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