RUTH Davidson’s “invisible” Scottish Tory MPs should make a little noise on Europe when they head to Manchester for the party’s annual conference, the SNP has said.
With the Tories split on Brexit it seems likely the EU, as well as the future leadership of the party will dominate the four-day annual gathering.
The SNP say the post-election speculation that Scottish Tory MPs would operate as an independent group or as a party-within-a-party has “quickly ended” as Davidson’s parliamentarians have disappeared “into backbench obscurity.”
SNP MSP James Dornan said: “The SNP’s Programme for Government was an ambitious plan to keep Scotland moving forward – it’s time for the Tories to do their bit and stop holding the country back.
“The Tories are bitterly divided over Brexit, with the party split from the Cabinet down, but Theresa May’s domestic agenda is also completely stagnant.
“There was a lot of talk about Scottish Tory MPs flexing their muscles – but no more. The only time you hear from them is when they’re talking about independence.
“On issue after issue, the Tories talk a good game but do absolutely nothing to deliver.
“It’s time for these invisible MPs to stand up for Scotland.”
A Tory spokesman hit back, saying Nicola Sturgeon’s politicians were in no position to lecture. “The SNP’s useless bunch of MPs do nothing at Westminster other than stoke up trouble,” he said. “They’re in no position to lecture other parties about anything.”
Meanwhile, in a statement released ahead of conference, May says she understands why voters didn’t respond to her party at June’s snap election.
May said: “As Conservatives, we have a vision of a country that works for everyone, not just the privileged few – precisely the direction I set when I became Prime Minister last year.
“I understand the concerns raised, particularly by young people, during what was a disappointing election for my party.
“So my determination to act on those concerns and, crucially, to fulfil the promise of my first speech on the steps of Downing Street, is greater than ever. So, this week, we’ll be setting out our road to a better future for you and your family.
“Yes, we have to get the best Brexit deal – but we must also take action here at home to make this a fairer place to live for ordinary working people.
“The social contract in our country is that the next generation should always have it better than the last.
“Conservatives have a plan to make that a reality.”
Despite newspapers last week suggesting that at least four of her Cabinet were plotting for her to go within hours of the election, May will insist Labour “is simply not fit to govern”.
“They don’t have the balanced economic approach our country needs and we know from last time where that leads.
“Costs rack up and working people – the very people who can least afford it – pay the price with higher taxes and fewer jobs.”
May will head to Manchester for the conference after reassuring EU leaders that Britain remains “unconditionally” committed to the collective defence of Europe.
The Prime Minister, in Estonia for an EU digital summit, said the UK would continue to provide assistance to states which were victims of armed aggression, terrorism or natural disasters.
Her comments echo her Florence speech last week, when she held out the prospect of a comprehensive security agreement with the EU in her effort to unlock the stalled Brexit negotiations.
However, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said it would require “miracles” if they were ready to start before the end of October.
“By the end of October we will not have sufficient progress. At the end of this week I am saying that that there will be no sufficient progress from now until October unless miracles would happen,” he told reporters at the summit in Tallinn.
Juncker’s comments come after the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier said on Thursday it could be “months” before the issues of Britain’s “divorce bill”, future citizens’ rights and the border with Ireland were settled and the negotiations could move forward.
Barnier is expected to meet Brexit Secretary David Davis in Brussels for the start of a fifth round of negotiations on October 9, but Mr Juncker’s comments suggest a breakthrough in those discussions is unlikely.
Arriving in Tallinn, May insisted she was “pleased” with the progress the negotiations had been making towards a “deep and special partnership” with the EU once the UK has left.
Earlier, addressing British troops serving with the Nato battlegroup in Estonia, the Prime Minister underlined her commitment to the future security of Europe.
While she carefully avoided the apparent threat to withdraw co-operation in her letter triggering the start of the Article 50 talks on Britain’s withdrawal, she nevertheless underlined the UK’s contribution as one of the most capable military powers in the EU.
“While we are leaving the European Union, as I have said many times, we are not leaving Europe so the United Kingdom is unconditionally committed to maintaining Europe’s security,” she said.
“Our resolve to draw on the full weight of our military, intelligence, diplomatic and development resources to lead international action with our partners on the issues that affect the security and prosperity of our peoples is unchanged.
“And our determination to defend the stability, security and prosperity of our European neighbours and friends remains steadfast.”
Britain currently has 800 troops stationed in Estonia and leads the battlegroup which forms part of Nato’s “enhanced forward presence” in eastern Europe designed to deter Russian aggression.
Addressing the troops at the Tapa military base, the Prime Minister said they stood ready to respond to any threat from Moscow.
“Russia’s continued aggression represents a growing danger to our friends here in Estonia as well as Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, and our response must be clear and unequivocal,” she said.
“When a nation like Russia violates the rules-based international order that we have worked so hard to create, we must come together with our allies to defend that international system and the liberal values, human rights and the rule of law by which we stand."
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