SCOTTISH Tory leader Ruth Davidson has split with the Prime Minister and launched a stinging attack on “desperate and dangerous” Donald Trump.
The MSP also accused the US Commander-in-Chief of “fawning over” Vladimir Putin at Monday’s summit in Helsinki, despite the Russian president's brutal record in power.
But an SNP MP accused Davidson of hypocrisy, saying it was hard for her to attack the Russian leader when she herself had been involved in a £20,000 donation to the Tories from a former Putin crony.
Writing in a daily newspaper, Davidson said: "Here was the President of the United States fawning over a Russian hardman. The impression gained was of a figure desperate to obtain a measure of acceptance and praise from his new friend."
She also compared the US president to former First Minister Alex Salmond, accusing the former SNP leader of "echoing Putin’s disinformation campaign" after he was reprimanded by Ofcom for misleading viewers by reading out made-up tweets on his RT show.
"Nothing attracts a wannabe strong man, it seems, than thuggish strength. And, in the case of both the former First Minister and current US president, Putin has – sadly – succeeded in that task," Davidson said.
She added: "Putin’s regime is a government that is contemptuous of international law and our democratic way of life. Yet, for the President of the United States, it is the European Union which is now to be deemed a ‘foe’, while Putin is America’s new best pal."
Davidson attacked Trump's "narrow vision of America" that "simply doesn't relate to the reality."
She added: "Mr Trump wants to have us believe there is only one America – his. He is wrong – and we should never forget it.
"America does not conform to Mr Trump's small and insular vision of it, nor does it have need of being made great again: it is already a hotbed of intellectual, cultural and technological greatness."
She warned against "inflating Mr Trump's ego even more by fearing him too much".
The SNP MP Stewart McDonald said there was “much to agree with” in Davidson’s piece, and that it was “welcome that she’s not replicating the fawning of her Westminster superiors”.
“However I’m afraid she is tainted by the fact she accepted a £20,000 donation to dine with one of Putin’s closest cronies and allies,” he added.
The Scots Tory leader was one of the prizes at an auction at the UK party’s Black and White fundraising ball in February.
She was won for £20,000 by Lubov Chernukhin, a Russian donor who has given the Tories £253,950 in the year to September 2017.
Chernukhin’s husband, Vladimir, was part of Putin’s government in the early years of his presidency, according to reports.
He was on the soviet ministry of foreign trade and then served as deputy finance minister from 2000 to 2002.
In 2004 he was appointed chairman of a state-owned bank by presidential decree, but he fell out with the president and fled to Britain.
McDonald told Davidson: “Hand it back and then we can take this a bit more seriously.
"Until then, this looks like a desperate bid for alternative relevance in amongst the civil war and chaos that grips the Conservative Party. Nice try though”
The National understands no date has been set for Davidson and Chernukhin to have lunch.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel