RUTH DAVIDSON’S NO DEAL POSITION UNTENABLE AND WEAK.

RUTH DAVIDSON’S NO DEAL POSITION UNTENABLE AND WEAK.

EMBARRASSMENT FOR DAVIDSON AS GOVE SHREDS HER AUTHORITY.

The SNP has challenged Ruth Davidson to find a backbone and oppose disastrous Tory plans for a no-deal Brexit – or face a backlash from Scottish voters who have consistently shown they want to Remain in the EU.

Ms Davidson wrote in a Sunday paper today that she will back Boris Johnson but will not give her support to a no-deal Brexit. Embarrassingly the article appeared just as Michael Gove wrote in another Sunday paper that the UK government is now “working on the assumption” of a no-deal Brexit.

Speaking ahead of Boris Johnson’s expected visit to Scotland, Stephen Gethins MP said that the Scottish Tory leader must set out exactly how she will meaningfully oppose Johnson’s no-deal Brexit plans – including by giving a cast iron commitment that all Scottish Tory MPs will vote against no-deal.

The SNP’s Foreign Affairs and Europe spokesperson also pointed out that every time Scottish Tory MPs have had the chance to vote against no-deal previously, they have instead voted for it – despite reports that Ruth Davidson expected them to vote as a bloc to protect Scotland’s interests.

Davidson has repeatedly flip-flopped on Brexit – accepting every decision by Downing Street. First she campaigned for Remain, calling Boris Johnson a liar. Then she was for Brexit but only with membership of the single market. Then she changed her position again, and was for it but only if there was no differentiation with Northern Ireland – threatening to resign over opposition to the backstop. Then she changed her position once more, and backed Theresa May’s deal despite the backstop. Now she has changed her mind yet again, and appears willing to allow a Boris Johnson Brexit.

At the European elections the Tories collapsed into fourth place in Scotland on 11%. A YouGov poll this week found the Tories have an even bigger Scotland problem under Boris Johnson. The new Tory leader is less popular in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK. Two-thirds of Scots (65%) said he would make a ‘poor’ or ‘terrible’ Prime Minister, 76% say he’s “out of touch”, 71% ‘untrustworthy’, 69% ‘incompetent’, 63% “don’t like him” and 71% think he is “Britain’s Trump”.

Commenting, Stephen Gethins MP said:

“It’s time for Ruth Davidson to find a backbone and join the SNP in meaningfully opposing Boris Johnson’s disastrous Brexit plans – instead of always rolling-over.

“She says she will support Mr Johnson but not a no-deal Brexit – but the fact is you can’t do both. Her position is untenable and weak.

“As the European elections showed, the Tories support for Brexit is damaging them in Scotland – and they will face an electoral backlash if they drag Scotland out of the EU against our will.

“Now is not the time for more of Ms Davidson’s flip-flopping or PR exercises. She must give a cast iron guarantee that all Scottish Tory MPs will vote against a catastrophic no-deal Brexit, which threatens to cause a recession, destroy 100,000 Scottish jobs, and cost every person in the country £2,300 a year.

“With three months to go until we are set to crash out of the EU, the SNP will do everything we can to stop Brexit, prevent a no-deal disaster, and stand up for Scotland. In contrast, the Scottish Tories have consistently voted for Brexit at every opportunity – including no-deal.

“Scotland is being completely ignored by Westminster and our interests are being sidelined. It’s no wonder that support for independence is growing, and polls show a majority of Scots support a fresh referendum.

“People in Scotland deserve the choice of a better future than the Brexit Britain being imposed on them. It’s clearer than ever that the only way to properly protect our interests is by becoming an equal and independent European country.”

Full YouGov Survey Results – https://gallery.mailchimp.com/4fae14f57a18ee08253ffc251/files/6115c8f8-962d-4a0a-99c6-a37b99ba42f3/YouGov_Survey_Results_Scotland.03.pdf

‘Scottish people would vote to leave the United Kingdom if Boris Johnson became prime minister, poll says’ – https://www.businessinsider.com/scottish-vote-for-independence-if-boris-johnson-becomes-prime-minister-2019-6?r=US&IR=T

Scots back second referendum as they lose faith in Union – https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/scots-back-second-referendum-as-they-lose-faith-in-union-qqt7cc3tt

Boris Johnson as PM would be ‘catastrophe’ for UK, say Scottish Tories – https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/23/boris-johnson-as-pm-would-be-catastrophe-for-uk-say-scottish-tories

Video of some of Ruth Davidson’s flip-flopping on Brexit: https://twitter.com/thesnp/status/1051781193878917120

Ruth Davidson previously told the BBC: “I want to stay in the single market.. even if a consequence of that is maintaining free movement of Labour.” – https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14938536.ruth-davidson-accused-of-rewriting-history-over-eu-single-market-demand/

Davidson and Mundell ‘could resign over Brexit deal’ – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-45856784