Ruth took party to new heights
I am sure there were many people, and not just Conservative supporters, who were shocked and saddened by the resignation of Ruth Davidson as leader of the Scottish Conservatives last week.
I thought Ruth made a very dignified statement, making clear the principal reason for her stepping down was due to family pressures with her new baby.
Leadership in politics puts a huge strain on individuals and family life, and along with my colleagues I fully understand Ruth’s reasons for stepping down at this stage.
She will be greatly missed by all Scottish Conservatives, who will thank her for her service over the past years.
She took the party to new heights which would have been considered impossible a few years ago, and was instrumental in winning the independence referendum in 2014.
It was a privilege working with Ruth and I wish her and her family all the very best for the future.
Politics however continues to go on, with the Scottish Parliament back in session after the end of the summer recess.
One issue which undoubtedly will come up in debate is the whole question of Scotland’s public finances, which were highlighted in the annual set of Scottish Government statistics, GERS (Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland).
These figures show the gap between what Scotland raises in tax and what it spends on public services is currently £12.6 billion.
This gap is currently supported by a union dividend, payments from elsewhere in the UK, worth nearly £2000 for every man, woman and child in Scotland.
This union dividend will be lost in the event of Scottish independence.
I was very concerned to see comments by the SNP’s deputy leader, Keith Brown MSP, who said an independent Scotland would get its deficit down to three per cent within three years.
This would mean finding savings of more than £7bn each year.
This would mean devastating cuts to schools, hospitals, councils, and infrastructure, and at the same time hiking personal taxes for millions of ordinary working Scots.
All this shows why we are better off as a part of the United Kingdom, with support from other parts of the UK.
It is not unusual within large countries to have fiscal transfers from one part to another.
So the deficit highlighted in the GERS figures only becomes an issue if we go down the route of independence.
What this tells us is that independence would be very costly for everyone in Scotland, and that is why the SNP need to take the threat of another referendum off the table.
Murdo Fraser always welcomes feedback from constituents.
He can be contacted at the Scottish Conservative office at The Control Tower, Perth Airport, Scone, PH2 6PL, by email on murdo.fraser.msp@ parliament.scot or by telephone on 01738 553676.