Labour an ‘irrelevance’ and doing harm to Union, says new Tory boss
The leader of the Scottish Conser vatives has labelled S cottish Labour an “irrelevance” and blamed them for harming the case for the Union as he aims to widen the gap between the two unionist parties.
Speaking on a podcast – due to be released later today – to the conser vative think-tank Bright Blue S cotland, which is backed by former Scottish Tor y leaders Ruth Davidson and Jackson Carlaw, recently installed leader Douglas Ross said he was focused on targeting dissatisfied Labour voters.
The comments come the day after significant pressure was placed on Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard, who faced increasingly loud calls to resign from his position to allow someone else to take the par - ty into the 2021 Holyrood elections. Mr Ross, who was speaking prior to Labour chief whip James Kelly’ s resignation on Monday night, said Mr Leonard was “pretty much unknown” to voters and those who previously backed Labour could find a home with the Scottish Tories.
Asked whether the appointment and performance of Mr Leonard had harmed the case for the Union, he said “absolutely”.
He said Scottish Labour were “more and more becoming an irrelevance”.
“We are the lead opposition, but it is incredible to now look at the Labour Party in Scotland and a leader is pretty much unknown in Richard Leonard,” he said.