Scots Tories backing Boris in No Deal Brexit U-turn
‘All Saltire and no Braveheart’
THE Scottish Tories have backed Boris Johnson and axed their opposition to a No Deal Brexit – just weeks after Ruth Davidson said she would not support it.
Leader Jackson Carlaw yesterday said he wants Brexit to happen on October 31 – and confirmed that he would not support extending the UK’s exit from the EU.
It is a major change of position for the Scottish party, after former leader Miss Davidson said in July that the UK Government should not pursue No Deal and ‘if it comes to it I won’t support it’.
Party leaders are braced for a general election over the coming months and believe it is vital to back Mr Johnson. Strategists also think backing No Deal can help them win at least four seats in the North-East of Scotland.
Speaking at the Conservative conference in Manchester yesterday, Mr Carlaw condemned First Minister Nicola Sturgeon for seeking to ‘ignore or overturn’ the result of the referendums on both independence and EU membership.
He said: ‘That’s not democracy. I sit in a Scottish parliament precisely because Scottish Conservatives accepted the referendum result in 1997 and buckled down to the task.
‘All power then to Boris Johnson as he seeks to achieve a fresh arrangement with our European partners and an orderly exit from the EU on October 31.
‘And if he does, it is the duty surely of all those who say they will do everything they can to avoid a No Deal to vote for that fresh arrangement.’
Asked about Miss Davidson’s previous opposition to a No Deal Brexit, he said: ‘Ruth has got very firm views. Everybody has views on Brexit.
‘My preference is for a negotiated way out and always has been.’
Mr Carlaw also condemned Miss Sturgeon’s plan to call a vote of no confidence in Mr Johnson and install an interim prime minister, likely to be Jeremy Corbyn.
He said: ‘At the moment Nicola Sturgeon is all Saltire and no Braveheart. It is time she actually found some gumption, as should the rest of the opposition, and allow us to have that general election, to resolve it.
‘I will be standing in that campaign fighting for the 13 Conservatives who will be seeking re-election and for other Conservatives to be elected in Scotland to support a Boris Johnson-led UK Conservative, majority administration.’
Nationalist MP Pete Wishart said last night: ‘It’s no surprise that the Scottish Tories have fallen into line behind their Westminster bosses and are now card-carrying do-ordie Brexiteers.
‘The so-called leadership of the Scottish Tories have steadily abandoned all of their principles.’