Truss pledges to deliver for ‘all’ of the United Kingdom
LIZ Truss has pledged her commitment to uphold the United Kingdom as she hit out at politicians in the devolved administrations for playing “political games” rather than delivering for voters.
The Foreign Secretary said that if she succeeds in becoming Prime Minister, she would also take on the role of Minister for the Union – a position created and held by Boris Johnson.
Her intervention came after she sparked controversy by denouncing Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as an “attention seeker”, suggesting she would ignore her demands for a fresh referendum on independence.
Her comments were seized on by the SNP leader who said it showed Ms Truss would ignore Scotland if she wins the race for the Tory crown in a ballot among party activists.
It then re-emerged online that Ms Sturgeon had branded former Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie a “pathetic attention seeker” at Holyrood in 2018, after an old clip of her remarks went viral on social media.
In a statement, Ms Truss – who remains the clear favourite to succeed Mr Johnson – insisted she would govern for the whole UK “family” if she gains the keys to Number 10.
“Having grown up in Paisley before going to a comprehensive school in Leeds, I consider myself a child of the Union. When I say I will deliver for our country, I mean all of it,” she said.
“My government would put the Union at the heart of everything it does and ensure that all corners of our country are rightly championed at the very top of government.
“For too long, people in parts of our United Kingdom have been let down by their devolved administrations playing political games instead of focusing on their priorities. If elected Prime Minister, I will deliver for our whole country.
“We are not four separate nations in an agreement of convenience, as some would have us believe. We are one great country which shares a history and institutions, but also family and friends, memories and values.”
The SNP has hit out at the comments, accusing Ms Truss of having a “total disregard” for Scotland. Westminster depute leader, Kirsten Oswald MP, said: “Instead of rhyming off pointless, generic rhetoric about the UK being ‘one great country’, Liz Truss must listen to the people of Scotland who voted overwhelmingly in favour of another independence referendum last year.
“The longer she denies reality, the stronger our case becomes.”