Voters repelled by ‘darker edge’ to Scottish Tories, claims Rennie
VOTERS are being repelled by the “harder, darker edge” to the Scottish Conservatives under Douglas Ross, the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats has insisted.
Launching his party’s manifesto, Willie Rennie said the Tories now have a “darker image and a darker positioning” than they did under
Ruth Davidson.
He referenced Mr Ross’s comments about gypsy travellers and his support for Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Mr Ross was criticised in 2017 after he said he would like to see “tougher enforcement against gypsy travellers” if he was Prime Minister for the day.
He has since apologised and said it was “the wrong answer to the question”.
Mr Rennie criticised the Tories as he launched the Libdems’ manifesto, which pledges to put recovery first rather than another independence referendum.
It promises a focus on mental health involving more counsellors and specialists as well as a mental health first aider in every workplace.
And it pledges to address the poverty-related attainment gap, with more in-class support for children who need it alongside more teachers on permanent contracts, as well as extending free early learning and childcare to include two-year-olds.
The manifesto advocates “play based education” until age seven.
The Libdems said they will combine the need for economic recovery with action on climate change, converting one million homes to low-cost, low-carbon heating in the next 10 years.
The party also wants to reform the UK for a “federal future”.
Speaking to journalists, Mr
Rennie said the Liberal Democrats could be the difference between whether the SNP achieve a majority or not in May.
He said his party had noticed
“soft Conservatives” were attracted by Ruth Davidson but not Mr Ross “and the chaos of Brexit”.
He said: “There’s kind of a harder, darker edge to the Conservative campaign this time, and they’re being repelled by that.”
Asked to expand on this, Mr Rennie referenced Mr Ross’s “approach on things like gypsy travellers” and “supporting Boris to become Prime Minister”.
He said: “In terms of policies, there is no doubt that it’s more to the right than where Ruth was, it’s less socially liberal.
“So therefore, for all those reasons, I think there’s a darker image and a darker positioning amongst the Conservatives than there was previously.”
He said the Conservatives are “part of the problem” in Scotland.
Mr Rennie said Mr Ross’s comments about gypsy travellers could “hang over him for some time, because it was an immediate reaction to something, and often immediate reactions tell you an awful lot about somebody’s character”.
Asked whether the Scottish Tories had become more “sinister” and right-wing under his leadership,
Mr Ross later told journalists: “No, absolutely not.
“We have brought forward polices since I’ve become leader on free school meals, both breakfast and lunch, for pupils here in Scotland.
“I’m pleased that other parties have backed us on that.
“That’s something no one could say is a move to the right by the Scottish Conservatives.
“I’ve brought forward policies to put victims at the heart of our justice system. That’s not lurching rightwards, that’s making sure people who suffer as a result of our justice system in Scotland get the support from the Scottish Government.
“I think people looking at our policies would see a Scottish Conservative party that has listened to communities and sectors across Scotland, as I promised we would, and has responded by introducing policies that work for individuals and families up and down the country.
“If Willie Rennie disagrees with that, that’s fine. I disagree with the fact he thinks it’s a major political event for him to sit in an oversized deckchair.
“We’re not going to agree on everything, but on this one I disagree with Willie Rennie.”
Elsewhere, Mr Rennie revealed his party is targeting Caithness, Sutherland and Ross as a key seat in the election on May 6.