The National:

HAVE the Scottish Conservatives ever tried to make political capital out of COP26, The Jouker wonders.

Tory knickers were twisted at the weekend after the SNP took out newspaper ads linked to COP26 in Glasgow, telling readers that "a nation in waiting welcomes the nations of the world".

"While not yet an independent nation, we're more than ready and able to play out part on the global stage at COP26," it added.

"Even when world leaders are in Glasgow to focus on the future of the planet, the first instinct of the SNP is to push their divisive independence obsession," frothed Scottish Conservative constitution spokesman Donald Cameron. "Nations from around the world are coming together at Cop26 in a bid to tackle the climate emergency and yet the SNP – whose failure to meet climate-change targets is dismal – would rather talk about separation."

Far be it from The Jouker to call a spade a shovel, but, well, haven't the Tories done just what they're accusing the SNP of and linked the environment to the constitution?

The Jouker had imagined seeing a tweet from the Scottish Conservatives that said it was "fantastic to hear @Douglas4Moray talking up the benefits of Scotland being part of the UK," adding: "Together, we can tackle climate change."

But that must have been a mis-rememberance, right?

Didn't a Tory group, the Conservative Environment Network, run a poll ahead of last month's party conference that tried to argue that we couldn't tackle climate change without Westminster? One that was reported with comments from David Duguid, Scottish Conservative MP for Banff and Buchan, saying: "This polling shows that the public recognise the need for us to work together across the United Kingdom to make the energy transition to net zero and hand on a better world to future generations.

"Here in the North East, the oil and gas industry possess much of the technology and expertise required and are fully engaged in the development of renewable and low carbon energy solutions and mitigations.

"The SNP have announced funding for the North East, but with no actual plan of action, while the UK Government has already led the way with the energy white paper, a 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution and a North Sea transition deal — all of which bring with them the prospect of tens of billions in investment and thousands of jobs."

And adding: "Scotland has two governments that need to pull together in these efforts – but the SNP are more interested in pulling the country apart.

"It’s crystal clear that without this pooling and sharing of financial resources, an independent Scotland would not be able to support communities like mine in the North East to diversify away from fossil fuels.

"As with so many other issues, on the climate, we can achieve much more together than we ever could apart."

Obviously not, sorry for making such a silly mistake.

There'd never be so much as a hint of double standards from the Scottish Conservatives. The Jouker is happy to set the record straight.