DOUGLAS Ross has been dubbed Boris Johnson’s “puppet” after refusing to condemn offensive comments about miners.
The Prime Minister, during a visit to Scotland last week, laughed as he claimed that Margaret Thatcher had given the UK “a big early start” in the fight against climate change by shutting mines.
The Tory leader was widely denounced, but Ross and his party have remained silent.
The Scottish Tory leader vowed last year to “stand up” to his Westminster boss if he was in the “wrong”.
Yet his party did not respond when contacted for comment by the Daily Record.
READ MORE: Welsh First Minister joins condemnation of Boris Johnson's coal mine 'joke'
An SNP spokesperson told the paper: “Douglas Ross’s refusal to say a word about his boss’s crass and offensive comments speaks volumes.
“Ross knows Johnson is a liability as a Prime Minister and bad news for Scotland yet he consistently sides with his boss against the best interests of the people he is supposed to represent.
“It is yet another failure of leadership, a hallmark of Ross’s time in charge of the Tory branch office. He is a puppet – he only talks when Johnson is working him from behind.”
Labour also attacked the Moray MP.
MSP Neil Bibby added: “Boris Johnson’s disgraceful comment shows just how out of touch he is.
“But Douglas Ross has also failed to distance himself from the Prime Minister’s crass comments.
“It seems that the Scottish Conservatives are just the same old Tories after all.”
The row began when Johnson, during a visit to a windfarm off the coast of Moray, faced pressure from journalists to explain his view on decommissioning oil and gas fields as the Scottish and UK governments move towards their net-zero targets.
When asked about setting a deadline, he replied: “Look at what we’ve done already. We've transitioned away from coal in my lifetime.
"Thanks to Margaret Thatcher who closed so many coal mines across the country we had a big early start and we’re now moving rapidly away from coal altogether."
READ MORE: Boris Johnson refuses to apologise for 'offensive' coal mines comment
Despite widespread condemnation, including from the first ministers of Scotland and Wales, Downing Street refused to apologise.
Number 10’s official spokesperson said: “This Government has an ambitious plan to tackle the critical issue of climate change, which includes reducing reliance on coal and other non-renewable energy sources.
“During the visit the Prime Minister pointed to the huge progress already made in the UK transitioning away from coal and towards cleaner forms of energy, and our commitment to supporting people and industries on that transition.”
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