Next PM must have a plan to protect Union, demands Ross
ALL MPS aiming to succeed Boris Johnson must show how they plan to protect the Union from the SNP’s latest separation bid, the leader of the Scottish Tories has demanded.
Douglas Ross yesterday welcomed the Prime Minister’s resignation and called for warring party factions to unite behind the next leader.
he also pleaded with Mr Johnson to step aside immediately and allow Dominic Raab to take over as caretaker Prime Minister, rather than continuing in Downing Street until a successor is appointed. It comes as Nicola Sturgeon said she would put independence front and centre of a snap election if called.
Speaking to STV News yesterday, Mr Ross said: ‘What I think is really important is the party unites behind the next Prime Minister to really deliver for the whole United Kingdom.
‘What I think will be very interesting is what all the candidates say about Scotland and the Union going forward, given the threat that the First Minister is holding over the country, to divide us all over again with another independence referendum next year.’
Mr Ross said he expects a ‘wide-open, strong field’ in the leadership contest and that they will all need to set out how they will protect Scotland’s place in the UK.
he added: ‘We don’t know yet the timetable from the 1922 committee for electing a new leader. But if it is a significant amount of time, I think the best option would be for an interim prime minister to take over. I think it would be difficult for the Prime Minister to continue for a number of months into the autumn and I think an interim prime minister would be able to step up and deal with the challenges that we face at the moment.’
his comments were backed by former Scottish Conservative leader Baroness Davidson. Writing on social media, she said: ‘There’s no way he can stay on until October.
‘It’s arrant nonsense to think that he can. Someone needs to grip (of) this.’
Mr Ross also condemned Mr Johnson for sacking Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove. he said: ‘I think Michael’s sacking was deeply disappointing for many colleagues, not just because he is an exceptional minister, and someone who can really transform departments when he gets there, but he was in charge of a very important ministry with Levelling Up, housing and Communities.’
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack, who remained strongly supportive of Mr Johnson, yesterday watched from Downing Street as he delivered his resignation speech. In a statement, he said: ‘I am sad to see Boris Johnson stand down as Prime Minister. he has achieved a huge amount in office, including delivering Brexit, supporting the country through Covid, and leading the international response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Most importantly, he has worked tirelessly to strengthen the Union.’
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Mr Jack said Mr Johnson has apologised for appointing Mr Pincher as chief whip and dismissed his lockdown fine, saying: ‘he was mugged, as was Rishi, by a birthday cake he didn’t see coming as they sat in the Cabinet office waiting for a meeting.
‘They didn’t attend a party, a party arrived and caught them out.’
Asked if Mr Jack’s job will become untenable when Mr Johnson departs, Mr Ross said: ‘I think that is up to whoever takes over as Prime Minister who they appoint.
‘But it is up to Alister to decide what he says, how he says it and the comments he supports or otherwise.’
‘Important the party unites’