‘Toxic’ PM absent from Scottish Tory election leaflets
THE Scottish Conservatives have failed to mention Boris Johnson on their party’s campaign material for the council elections in May despite reports of a rapprochement between the party north and south of the Border.
There is no reference to the Prime Minister – who continues to be under police investigation over alleged parties held in Downing Street during coronavirus lockdowns – on leaflets sent to householders in Glasgow.
Scottish Conservative chief Douglas Ross, who has called for Mr Johnson to resign as
UK party leader and
Prime Minister, is pictured as are fellow
Tory MSPs Russell Findlay, Megan Gallacher, Sandesh Gulhane and Pam Gosal.
Last week, it emerged that Mr Johnson will be invited to address the Scottish Conservative conference in March in a sign relations may be improving between him and Mr Ross.
Mr Ross was among the Tory MPs who wrote to the 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady seeking to trigger a no-confidence vote.
The move prompted Jacob Rees-Mogg, then the leader of the House, to call the head of the Scottish Conservatives a “lightweight”.
Earlier this month, Downing Street confirmed that Mr Johnson had received a legal questionnaire from Met officers investigating events in Number 10. He now has seven days to adequately explain his attendance or face a fine for breaking his own Covid regulations.
A poll earlier this month found three-quarters of voters in Scotland believe Mr Johnson should stand down as PM following the “partygate” scandal. Scottish Tories worry the row could affect voting in the local elections in May.
It is understood SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon and Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer will be featured on their parties’ material.
SNP MSP Michelle Thomson said: “Even the Scottish Tories know how much of a toxic brand Boris Johnson is in Scotland. They are so embarrassed of him being their boss they cannot even bring themselves to feature him on a leaflet. If the Scottish Tories have rejected Boris Johnson then why do they expect the people of Scotland to continue to accept him?”
Scottish Labour’s Neil Bibby said: “It’s no wonder the Scottish Tories want to try to hide Boris, but the fact remains they fought to make him Prime Minister. Voters will see through these desperate attempts to backpedal and distance themselves from the mess they helped create. Scottish Labour will be putting forward our positive vision in these council elections, so we can start building a better future together.”
The LibDems’ Wendy Chamberlain said: “The Scottish Conservatives know that Boris Johnson is utterly toxic. No wonder none of them are keen to feature him on their leaflets.”
A Scottish Conservatives spokesman said: “This is a local council election. The SNP won’t be putting Ian Blackford on their leaflets.
“Nobody at Westminster is standing for election in May’s council elections.”