DOUGLAS Ross has been warned not to use his constituents as a “shield” for his “repugnant views”.
The Moray MP has been rebuked by the region’s SNP MSP after seemingly justifying remarks about same-sex marriage and Gypsy Travellers by insisting he was reflecting the views of local people.
The Scottish leader has been accused of holding a “vendetta” against the Traveller community. In 2017, he said if he was prime minister for the day he would prioritise “tougher enforcement against Gypsy Travellers”.
And recently uncovered emails reveal that, in 2018, he lobbied to have a Traveller family evicted from their site in Moray. Ross added he was disappointed “we seem to have to bend over backwards for this ethnic minority” when a Traveller site was approved in Moray. His party said he made the request “on his constituent’s behalf”.
New research, exclusively revealed by The National, shows 65% of Scottish voters believe the remarks about Gypsy Travellers mean he is not an "appropriate” person to be the leader of a major political party or a candidate for first minister.
READ MORE: Poll reveals Scotland's damning verdict on Douglas Ross
The Moray MP faced further criticism this week after it was revealed he opposed same-sex marriage legislation when it was passed by MSPs in 2014. Ross, a councillor at the time, said he would have voted against the bill.
Grilled on last night’s Channel 4 leaders’ debate, the Scottish Tory leader stated he now “fully” supports same-sex marriage. However, when justifying his previous comments, Ross said: “I was balancing both sides of the argument because many constituents had contacted me about it.”
The Tory chief's claims that his views have merely reflected those of his constituents have been angrily disputed by locals, according to Moray MSP Richard Lochhead.
The SNP politician, responding to The National’s exclusive story, told Ross he was damaging his area’s reputation.
He wrote on Facebook: "I’ve noticed angry comments locally in response to our Tory MP‘s implying his controversial views on a range of issues such as same sex marriage are simply him reflecting the views of his constituents.
"As Moray’s MSP for many years who has actually voted on such matters, my own stance is determined by my conscience, principles and convictions and I certainly don’t have any evidence that the majority of my constituents share his views.
"Given that constituents do not have a uniform view on many issues, it often comes down to the integrity of elected representatives and their own values and beliefs and responsibility to justify themselves to their constituents as to why they have voted a certain way in Parliament."
READ MORE: Douglas Ross would have 'voted against' same-sex marriage in 2014
He added: "I believe that as an elected representative I have a duty to listen to my constituents’ views on such matters but also my own conscience. Given Mr Ross’s current profile as a party leader, he is not doing Moray’s reputation any favours and now he wants to be an MSP via the party list vote as well as staying on as an MP. He needs to be careful before deploying the people of Moray as a shield for his often repugnant views."
The Scottish Conservatives have been approached for comment.
Ross was put on the spot in last night’s leaders debate about his views on same sex marriage as it was pointed out his party’s Holyrood leader, Ruth Davidson, “cried with joy” when the legislation was passed.
He replied: “I’ve said, in a debate in Moray Council chamber, that there was a passionate engaged debate on both sides and I was balancing both sides of the argument because many constituents had contacted me about it.
“I said at the time I would have voted against it, just like two of Nicola Sturgeon’s government ministers voted against it.
“I have also said that I fully support it. I think marriage is a thing of beauty both for men and women and people of same sex and it’s something we should support.”
The Moray MP, who is seeking to secure a dual mandate at next month’s election, has also apologised for his 2017 comments about Gypsy Travellers.
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