NEW Scots Tory MP Kirstene Hair said she didn’t vote in the EU referendum because she found it too difficult to pick a side.
The former events manager who overturned the 11,230 majority of SNP stalwart Mike Weir in last June’s general election, told The Courier, she chose to abstain and go with the “will of the UK”.
Hair, who before the referendum in June 2016 stood for the Tories as a candidate in the Holyrood elections, told the paper: “I took the decision not to vote on it. It was incredibly difficult. The first time I’ve never voted in my life.
“It was very difficult because you get two arguments, very strong on both sides.
“I just ultimately couldn’t make that decision.
“I thought I would therefore go with the will of the UK which if I’m honest I thought we would remain.
“But I left that to everyone else.”
Luckily for the new MP, the party whips at Westminster now tell her how to vote, saving her from needing to take any decisions herself.
According to the Public Whip website, Hair has backed the government line on 100 per cent of all votes since being elected.
The MP added: “Now I think we all have to get behind it and say, you know what, that’s the way the country voted and we have to make the best. I do think we’ve got good opportunities for the UK.”
There was little sympathy for Hair from other politicians.
SNP MSP Gillian Martin tweeted: “So I spent time yesterday discussing with school pupils why it’s important to vote. And a new Tory elected representative says this.”
While Scottish Government minister Mark McDonald tweeted: “Wait. What?”
The Tory then posted a statement, saying: “My priority is to secure the best possible deal for the UK, for Scotland, and for my Angus constituency in particular.
It is time to move on from the division of the referendum and work together as we navigate our way out of the EU.”
Voters in Angus backed remaining in the EU 55.3 per cent to 44.7 per cent.
The Scottish Government’s most recent agriculture census shows Tayside is home to the majority of Scotland’s potato, vegetables and orchard and soft fruit growers.
The sector will be hit badly by Brexit and restrictions on European workers coming to Scotland to take jobs as pickers.
A report for the summer fruits trade organisation predicted the cost of strawberries and raspberries could soar by 50 per cent if Brexit makes it harder for growers to recruit overseas pickers.
At present 95 per cent of the 30,000 workforce comes from other EU nations, the majority being from Poland and Romania.
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