Unionists ‘downed tools’ after 2014 referendum
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross has said unionists “downed tools” after the Scottish independence referendum in 2014 while nationalists continued to campaign. on The Steamie, The Scotsman’s political podcast, the Moray MP said the failure of the SNP and other pro-independence parties to accept the result saw unionist politicians on the back foot.
However he denied that the failure of unionists to predict such a response from nationalists was naivety.
Asked why support for remaining part of the United Kingdom had failed to make a breakthrough in the polls following the 2014 independence referendum, Mr Ross said the expectation was both sides would “respect the result”.
He said: “There is still strong support for remaining part of the UK.
"I do think that the vast majority of us on the pro-uk side downed tools after 2014 because we were told there would be a once in a generation, one opportunity to vote to stay in the UK or leave the UK
and become an independent country and both sides agreed to accept the result.
"So when in September 2014, 55 per cent of people in Scotland voted to remain in the UK, we thought there we go, we have done that, we have convinced people in a campaign, now we can move on to other issues.
"But of course the nationalists never accepted that result.
"They are perfectly entitled to still believe in independence but they did say they would accept the result of the referendum and they have campaigned every single day every
since to have another independence referendum to get the result they want and I think that’s been part of it.”
Mr Ross was asked if such an approach was naivety on the side of unionists given the SNP’S main political argument is for the establishment of an independent Scotland.
The Scottish Tory leader responded: “I wouldn’t call it naivety I just think that when both sides agree to respect the result I can imagine what independence supporters would say if I had spent from the day after the referendum in 2014 if it had gone the other way, camspeaking
paigning for Scotland to rejoin the UK, they would have been up in arms.
"They would have said you said you would respect the result and you are not doing that. I think that they have to accept that is a criticism.”
The MP, who is hoping to become an MSP in May’s Holyrood elections, was also asked whether he liked his Westminster boss, Boris Johnson, whose approval ratings in Scotland are extremely low.
He said: "He doesn’t ignore these poll ratings. He sees poll ratings as anyone else does and he understands people
like him and people don’t, and that’s the nature of politics.
"I do work closely with him, we’re in regular contact, I also resigned from his government.
“I both agree with the Prime Minister, I disagree with the Prime Minister and I have shown by my actions that I do what I think is right rather than simply what the Prime Minister would want me to do.
Mr Ross earlier said that he was "delighted" former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson is playing a prominent role in their election campaign after opposition attacks
about him being sidelined.
The SNP and Labour have both claimed the football linesman, has been "put on the subs bench" because of Ms Davison's high-profile in their Holyrood election campaign.
But in a possible jibe at the SNP, whose former leader Alex Salmond now leads the Alba party, Mr Ross said he was pleased to have the "strong backing" of his predecessor.
Asked whether he was concerned Ms Davidson was eclipsing him, Mr Ross replied: "Ruth is one of the most successful politicians in Scottish politics, and she rightly plays a
key role in our campaign going forward."
He added: "It's my team, my manifesto, my policies and I'm delighted Ruth is a strong, integral part of that team."
The SNP'S depute leader Keith Brown had argued Mr Ross and the Conservatives were in "panic mode", and said: "Heisusedtobeingonthesidelines in his refereeing career, but now he's there in his political career too - if the situation was so 'mission-critical', why is he not the man in the middle?"
The remarks followed comments from Scottish Labour's deputy leader Jackie Baillie
who said: "Douglas Ross is used to spending time on the side-lines - but it's now clear even his own party thinks he should be put on the subs bench."
Mr Ross, the Conservatives' lead candidate on the Highland and Islands regional list, also told journalists that Boris Johnson would be involved in the Conservatives' campaign although unable to say whether the Prime Minister or Chancellor would visit Scotland in person before polling day on May 6.
Speaking in a virtual press call, Mr Ross said he expects
"senior members" of the Westminster government to be involved in "promoting work for the UK Government has done throughout this pandemic" on issues such as the vaccine rollout and furlough scheme.
"Clearly the message from the UK Government is a positive one in terms of the number of jobs that have been protected, the massive additional support here in Scotland during the last 12 months to allow us to tackle this pandemic," he said.