Scots backing Truss ‘as she understands value of the Union’
LIZ Truss has secured her first declaration of support from Holyrood – as Rishi Sunak launched a charm offensive aimed at Tory MSPs.
Scottish Conservative education spokesman Oliver Mundell yesterday became the first MSP to publicly back the Foreign Secretary’s bid to be the next Prime Minister.
Miss Truss is also said to be gathering significant support from the Scottish Tory grassroots membership.
Mr Sunak stepped up his campaign north of the Border by holding a virtual meeting with about half of the party’s MSPs at Holyrood, where he vowed to help the Tory fightback against the SNP.
Mr Mundell, the MSP for Dumfriesshire, told the Mail he is backing Miss Truss. He previously supported Boris Johnson’s leadership bid and backed him to remain in post even after he narrowly survived a vote of no confidence last month.
He is the first Scottish Tory MSP or MP to confirm their support for Miss Truss, although it is understood several others are considering a similar move.
Former Aberdeen South MP Ross Thomson, who was Mr Johnson’s campaign manager in Scotland during his leadership campaign, yesterday said he was supporting Miss Truss because he has ‘seen at first hand how she turns her ideas into actions’.
Mr Thomson said: ‘Born in Oxford, brought up in Paisley, Liz more than understands the value of the Union, that we are stronger when we work together, and how to make the positive case for the benefits of Scotland remaining in the UK.’
He also highlighted how, having worked for oil giant Shell, she ‘knows how vitally important the energy industry is to the NorthEast’. He added: ‘Where former chancellor Rishi Sunak refused to listen to the concerns of Scottish Conservative MPs and ploughed on with his damaging windfall tax, Liz has said she will review this tax as part of her plan to turbocharge the economy.’
Last night, North East MSP Douglas Lumsden also announced he was supporting Miss Truss. He said: ‘After consideration I am backing Liz Truss to be our next leader. She cares passionately about the Union. She understands the value of the energy industry to the North East.’
Mr Sunak has received the support of a series of prominent Scottish Tories, including former leader Ruth Davidson, constitution spokesman Donald Cameron, local government spokesman Miles Briggs and MPs Andrew Bowie and John Lamont.
Mr Sunak’s virtual meeting with MSPs was hosted by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, who is remaining neutral during the leadership contest and hosted a similar event with Miss Truss.
One MSP who attended the event,said: ‘He seemed to get Scotland. He was acutely aware of issues facing the country, especially around this incompetent SNP-Green government, and was really keen to make sure that, as the future leader of the party, he can be part of us taking on the SNP in the future.
‘There is a significant number of colleagues who are still undecided between the two, and I think that is probably where the Scottish membership is too, so it really is all to play for.’
‘She turns her ideas into actions’