THE Scottish Greens have hit back at claims their party leader is a “ticking time-bomb” for the Scottish economy.
Tory MSP Pam Gosal, who represents the West of Scotland, took a swipe at Patrick Harvie during the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham on Monday.
The Green minister was described as being “no laughing matter” in a blistering attack on the SNP’s partners in government.
She said: “Then there’s the wannabes; the Greens, who don’t even believe in economic growth.
“They are hardline economic extremists. While it’s tempting to look at Patrick Harvie and think he’s a joke, it’s no laughing matter that he’s in government.
READ MORE: Nadine Dorries says Liz Truss 'must' hold General Election during Tory conference
“He’s a ticking-time bomb for Scotland’s business community. And that’s why it is so important that we, Scottish Conservatives and Unionists, keep putting in the work to be the party for anyone who wants to get ahead and the next time the SNP-Greens try to stereotype what a typical Tory is, they can speak to me.”
But the Greens have hit back at the claims, saying the Tories have “exploded” the UK economy in the past week.
A spokesman said: “This is rich coming from a Tory given her own Chancellor has just exploded the UK economy and looks set to wreak further damage with a real-time cut in benefits.
“Pam Gosal’s Cabinet cronies have sabotaged the pound causing it to go into freefall, caused the housing market to implode and forced the Bank of England to shore up its economic defences with a £65 billion intervention.
"The Tories’ handling of the economy has been a joke, but families and businesses across Scotland certainly don't think it's a laughing matter.”
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