‘Child of the Union’ defiant over new bid to break up UK
LIZ Truss has described herself as a ‘child of the Union’ as she vowed to deny another independence referendum under any circumstances.
Miss Truss said that her being raised in both Scotland and England would help her make a positive case for the Union, which she described as ‘a very important part of our DNA as a country’.
The Foreign Secretary also insisted that she can be popular north of the Border, and added ‘some Scots love me’.
Her comments came in a hustings session before last night’s vote by Tory MPs, which will now see Miss Truss go head-to-head with Rishi Sunak over the summer in a bid to become the next Prime Minister – with the result to be announced in September.
Asked during the event, hosted by the Spectator magazine, if there are any circumstances in which she would agree to a second independence referendum, Miss Truss said: ‘No. The referendum in 2014 was described as a “once in a generation” referendum and we’re now in 2022. That is not a generation ago.’
Questioned on how she would make a positive case for the Union, she said: ‘I’m a child of the Union, I was brought up in Paisley and in Leeds and it’s a very important part of our DNA as a country.
‘The approach I would take, and it’s the approach I’ve taken in Government, is we need to show we are a Government for the whole of the United Kingdom.’
She hailed the removal of US tariffs on Scotch whisky as one of her achievements as Foreign Secretary, adding: ‘It is about demonstrating the UK Government is delivering for all parts of the UK.’
On concerns within the
Scottish Conservatives about outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson even coming to Scotland, she said: ‘I go to Scotland regularly and I love it because I went to primary school in Paisley, so I’m very fond of Scotland.’
Asked if Scots love her, she said: ‘Well that’s a question for Scots rather than me. Some Scots love me, I can tell you that.’
During the same hustings event, Mr Sunak appeared uncomfortable when asked whether there were any circumstances in which he would allow another referendum. He said: ‘This process is now playing out in the courts and the Supreme Court will make a decision.
‘I care very deeply about the Union and I think most people, in Scotland especially, would agree that it’s not the priority right now to have a referendum.’
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: ‘Both of them bring extensive Cabinet service and either one of them is up to the task of being our next Prime Minister.’