A FORMER Scottish Tory MP who didn’t vote in the 2016 Brexit referendum because it was a “very difficult” decision to make has landed a role advising Douglas Ross.
Kirstene Hair was the MP for Angus until the December General Election, when the SNP won the seat back from the Tories.
After becoming the area’s MP Hair admitted she didn’t vote on Brexit, saying: 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 and 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.”
READ MORE: Farmers union furious: Douglas Ross 'misled' the public on food standards
Hair now has a role on the new Scottish Tory leader’s team as he prepares for the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.
SNP MP Alyn Smith said: “It speaks volumes that the Tories are recycling failed politicians who have proven they do not have a view on the biggest issue facing Scotland.
“Kirstene Hair could not work out what was in Scotland’s best interests during the Brexit referendum, and since then has gone along with what her party has decided.”
READ MORE: WATCH: Question Time audience laughs when Tory says PM cares about Scotland
The news comes amid a tricky few days for Moray MP Ross. Yesterday he revealed his economic proposals to “power up Scotland” – but it quickly emerged that one of his central policies would be banned by the UK Government’s latest power grab bill.
He was also accused of misleading the Scottish public on food standards by the National Farmers Union of Scotland policy director.
Ross was challenged on his voting record during Good Morning Scotland. Asked about how he voted on clause 11 of the Trade Bill, which sought to protect high food standards in the UK after Brexit, Ross said the NFU Scotland policy director had reassured him no MP had voted to reduce animal welfare or biosecurity standards.
READ MORE: Douglas Ross' new adviser Kirstene Hair has a major blindspot
Jonnie Hall later hit back, saying he was “fuming” with how Ross represented his comments.
He said: “I was fuming at the time and I remained very concerned that an honest and very straightforward answer to a question has basically turned 180 degrees to misrepresent a situation where I think people are being misled.”
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