Boris ‘finally getting it’ on Union – Ruth
Davidson praises appointment of Scot as adviser to Prime Minister
UK ministers are ‘finally getting it’ on the Union as Boris Johnson appoints a new special adviser who helped lead the Scottish Conservative revival.
Ruth Davidson yesterday praised the appointment of Mark McInnes who is moving to Downing Street.
The former Better Together director is leaving his job as director of the Scottish Tories and is already a constitutional adviser to Scottish Secretary Alister Jack.
Now he will advise the Prime Minister on Scotland and the Union.
The move comes after Nicola Sturgeon insisted she wants to hold a second independence referendum in the next two years.
Mr Johnson has so far rejected the calls but pressure is set to grow as the country recovers from the pandemic.
Praising the move yesterday, Miss Davidson tweeted: ‘Union unit model stood down in favour of more traditional advisory network. Thoroughly positive all round – both in design and personnel. HMG finally getting it.’
A Union Unit had previously been created in No10 but this was disbanded.
Mr McInnes said: ‘I want to say a sincere thank you to all the party members, activists and supporters who it has been my pleasure to work with over the years.
‘Together we have achieved so much, helping win the 2014 referendum, contributing to the election of Conservative governments, and firmly establishing the Scottish Conservatives as Scotland’s second biggest party and real alternative to the SNP.’ Lord McInnes of Kilwinning has been director of the Scottish Tories for 18 years. The appointment was announced as the UK Government confirmed that the system which gives English MPs an effective veto on laws which only affect England could be scrapped. Michael Gove said the English votes for English laws procedure had ‘not served Parliament well’.
It was introduced in 2015 to correct a perceived imbalance in the powers of MPs from England and Scotland. A vote will be held in the Commons next week on removing it.
Meanwhile, Miss Davidson yesterday said there is ‘not a chance’ she will become Mr Johnson’s next Scottish Secretary.
The former Scottish Tory leader, who is due to join the House of Lords, said her commitments to her family mean she will not take on any ‘big jobs’ until her son is in school.
Miss Davidson, who is no longer an MSP, spoke to Matt Chorley on Times Radio. She said she is looking for new projects to work on while in the Lords. Asked if she will take on the role of Scottish Secretary, Miss Davidson said there is ‘not a chance’.
Giving two reasons for that response, she said: ‘One, because Alister Jack is doing the job of Scottish Secretary very well, thank you very much.
‘Two, because I promised my partner when I stepped away two years ago that I wouldn’t do any big jobs until my son – and if we’re blessed with any other younger brothers or sisters for them – are in school. And I intend to keep that promise.’