WHILE it's taking the London media a bit of time to catch on – that embarrassing Spectator Q&A might help – up in Scotland, we all know Ruth Davidson and her party barely have a policy position.
Instead, the Scottish Tories will adopt whatever stance gives them a shot at their #SNPBAD lines, and change that view as frequently as needs be.
That said, it's still rare that we get to see examples as staggeringly obvious as what they've served up today.
Standardised national assessments in literacy and numeracy for primary one children were introduced this month. There's been much debate over the policy, but that isn't relevant here.
What we're focusing on is Scottish Tory MSP Liz Smith, shadow education secretary, weighing in on the row, after John Swinney had sent a letter to concerned parents.
Smith said: "The Scottish Conservatives have never been in favour of formal standardised national tests in Primary 1 and were the first to argue against their introduction."
Forgive us, but we want to repeat that, because it really needs stressed: "The Scottish Conservatives have never been in favour of formal standardised national tests in Primary 1 and were the first to argue against their introduction."
Remember what we were saying about the Tories going wherever #SNPBAD was? They're at it again here.
Green MSP Ross Greer had a certain section of the Scottish Tory 2016 manifesto to point to.
Attaching the images, he wrote: "How is this anything other than a straight up lie? On the left, the Tories' claims today as reported by @petermacmahon.
"On the right, their manifesto from 2016. They did not oppose these tests, they called for & welcomed them. Greens (and I believe the LDs) were the opposition."
How is this anything other than a straight up lie? On the left, the Tories' claims today as reported by @petermacmahon. On the right, their manifesto from 2016.
— Ross Greer (@Ross_Greer) August 28, 2018
They did not oppose these tests, they called for & welcomed them. Greens (and I believe the LDs) were the opposition. pic.twitter.com/xMoHZlyfmM
In that image of the manifesto, Smith's party welcomes the introduction of national testing, including for P1s.
Does it get any more blatant?
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