Ross: PM will always be welcome in Scotland

DOUGLAS Ross unveiled his policy plans to put the Scottish Tories into office – and allied himself directly with Boris Johnson. The Moray MP published ambitions for transport, job security and the wider economy a day before the Scottish Government sets out its annual programme for government. But the Scottish Conservatives have a lot of ground to make up if they want to catch the SNP at the Holyrood election in May, according to recent opinion polling. Surveys also suggest support for independence has reached 55 per cent. Ross said another visit from Johnson, expected in Scotland again next month, is welcome. “The Prime Minister is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, he will be visiting Scotland regularly, he will be engaging with businesses and communities the length and breadth of Scotland,” he said. “However much the SNP jump up and down, saying he’s doing it for this reason or that reason, he’s doing it because he’s the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and from my point of view, he is very welcome here at any point.”

Johnson cut short a holiday trip to Scotland this month when his location was revealed by a newspaper.

Before that, he was in Scotland to see Ross shortly before Jackson Carlaw MSP announced he was the wrong man to lead the Scottish Conservatives and stepped down.

Yesterday, Ross revealed what a Scottish Tory administration under his leadership would aim to do.

He called for more targeted spending, a town centre rescue plan, community right to buy schemes for pubs, and a hardship fund for business facing localised lockdown.

Ross also wants “job security councils” to help workers made redundant find new employment.

He said they would be funded through efficiencies in the Scottish Government’s existing budget.

Ross added: “The SNP Scottish Government over the last 13 years have failed at spending Scottish taxpayers’ money to the best of their ability.”

Other Scottish Tory policies include a call for a fully integrated transport system, with an Oyster card-like payment method that would work across all public transport networks, and a three-lane M8.