THE Scottish Tory interim leader is facing backlash over his decision to reverse the party's No-Deal Brexit stance.
Under previous leader Ruth Davidson the Scottish Tory policy was that it would not support the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
But yesterday current leader Jackson Carlaw trampled over that promise and in a grovelling U-turn backed the Prime Minister's position.
He said it would be “far more damaging” to continue in the EU with the “endless drift” and vowed his MPs would support Boris Johnson leaving the bloc with or without a deal on October 31.
“Central to our national interest is best possible access to the free-trade market, (its) of fundamental importance to employment”. @Jackson_Carlaw June 2016.
— Michael Russell (@Feorlean) September 30, 2019
"I'm not one of those who's argued the world will fall in if no deal is where we end up”@Jackson_Carlaw September 2019
Today Scotland's Constitutional Relations Secretary Mike Russell perfectly highlighted Jackson Carlaw's change in position with two quotes from the man himself.
In June 2016, Carlaw said: “Central to our national interest is best possible access to the free-trade market, (its) of fundamental importance to employment."
READ MORE: Scottish Conservatives to back No-Deal in Brexit U-turn
Then, in September 2019, he said: "I'm not one of those who's argued the world will fall in if no deal is where we end up."
Meanwhile, the First Minister gave her damning verdict on Carlaw's move.
In a tweet, Nicola Sturgeon wrote: "Hard to overstate how big a blunder supporting a 'no deal' Brexit is from Jackson Carlaw."
Hard to overstate how big a blunder supporting a ‘no deal’ Brexit is from Jackson Carlaw. https://t.co/qwUJgpIfBn
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) September 30, 2019
The decision to back Johnson on the matter is an interesting one considering the Prime Minister's poor approval ratings in Scotland.
Just last week it emerged a majority of Scots think the PM should resign over the unlawful Parliament proroguing scandal.
It also has not been that long since a well-publicised Scottish Tory plan to prevent Johnson from being PM, titled 'operation Arse', was in action at the autumn 2018 Conservative conference.
One passage in Carlaw's Tory conference speech may show him positioning himself to succeed Davidson (above) as the Scottish Tories’ permanent leader.
He said: “OK sure, Nicola Sturgeon cuts a figure as she jets around the world promoting independence yet all the while the people’s business suffers.
“My ambition will be to travel anywhere and everywhere, exclusively to promote Scottish business, to have a Scottish Government and First Minister focused entirely on putting the people’s business first.”
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