THERESA May has urged Scots to wheesht about independence just now, and let her get on with getting the “right Brexit deal” for the “whole United Kingdom”.
The Prime Minister, who was in Edinburgh to launch the Scottish Tory manifesto, rejected Nicola Sturgeon’s pitch for a seat at the EU Brexit negotiating table.
She also called for Scots to back her party north of the Border in next month’s vote to help “strengthen her hand” against both the SNP and Brussels.
May argued that Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn was “too weak to stand up for” Scotland remaining in the UK, and urged disenfranchised Labour voters to lend their support to Ruth Davidson’s Scottish Tories.
Davidson, who introduced the Prime Minister to the activists and press waiting in the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, had made a similar brazen effort to pitch her party as the place for unhappy Labour supporters.
“The truth is, your party has left you, not the other way around,” the Scots Tory leader said.
“It may well find its way back. But you know — and I know — it won’t be at this election.”
The Scottish Conservatives are a party of the “centre ground” she said, adding: “We are committed to workers’ rights, boosting low pay, getting a good deal for our fishermen and improving the education of our young people so cruelly let down by this Scottish Government.”
Details of the location and time of the event were released to press just two hours before, in a bid to stop May having to deal with protesters.
The Scottish version of the party’s programme for government was being released just a day after the Tory leader and her cabinet had launched their UK-wide offer to voters.
The two documents were close in tone and content to what had been offered 24 hours earlier, although there was some disagreement between May and Davidson over the winter fuel allowance.
In England and Wales, the Tories are set to bring in means testing for the annual lump sum sent to all pensioners to help pay for heating and hot water.
Labour claims the move will hit 10 million pensioners.
Davidson has said it will remain a universal benefit in Scotland, because it is “colder” north of the Border.
The Prime Minister said devolution meant different choices could be made in Scotland but insisted the plans for means testing in England were fair.
In her speech May stressed that leaving the EU would result in a “better future for our fishermen”, with the UK no longer part of the Common Fisheries Policy.
In addition, she said “ineffective” EU fund schemes would be replaced with a “new targeted scheme” which would have the sole purpose of reducing inequalities within and between the four nations of the UK.
“We will take back control of structural funds and use them to strengthen our Union and reduce inequalities between our communities,” the Prime Minister said.
“Now more than ever, Britain needs a clear plan and the determination and the will to see it through.
“And now more than ever, we need a government committed heart and soul to strengthening and sustaining our precious union of nations and people.”
May told voters: “A vote for me and my team is a vote for strong and stable leadership.
“Every vote for me and my team will strengthen my hand in the negotiations to come.
“Every vote will help me get a better deal for the whole United Kingdom.
“And every vote from Scotland will strengthen my hand when I stand up for our United Kingdom here at home.”
Ahead of May’s visit a YouGov poll suggested the party could take eight seats at next month’s election, including the Moray constituency of Angus Robertson, the SNP’s depute leader.
Robertson was dismissive of the Tory boss’s message.
“Theresa May flew into Edinburgh today to deliver one simple message to the people of Scotland — get back in your box,” he argued.
“This carbon copy manifesto confirms beyond doubt that Tory MPs from Scotland will simply rubber-stamp Theresa May’s plans and endorse the damage she is determined to do to households and our economy.
“The Tories have done more to divide society, create instability and destroy opportunities for young people than any other government in living memory — now they are asking people to vote for them to fix the problems that they have created.”
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said a vote for May and the Tories would be “an endorsement of a hard Brexit and the horrific rape clause”.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel