RUTH Davidson has been urged to apologise by SNP MSPs who claimed the Scottish Consevative leader suggested Nicola Sturgeon delayed the launch of her manifesto to gain political advantage by moving it closer to polling day.
The document was due to be unveiled in Edinburgh on Tuesday last week, but was postponed after the Manchester terror attack the previous night in which 22 people died.
Campaigning stopped for most of the week as people across the UK paid tribute to those who had lost their lives in the suicide bombing at the end of an Ariana Grande concert. The SNP manifesto was then launched by the First Minister in Perth on Tuesday this week.
Davidson caused uproar when she appeared in an interview on STV the same evening, pointing out the SNP manifesto launch was “just nine days ahead” of polling day on 8 June.
Discussing whether Nicola Sturgeon had a mandate for an independence referendum and referring to comments Sturgeon made about the timing of a new vote to coincide with any changes in the Brexit timescale, Davidson said: “Have you seen the step back she’s taken in her manifesto, which she’s published just today, just nine days before the poll?”
SNP MSP James Dornan told The National: “I was disappointed to hear Ruth Davidson suggest that the SNP were trying to gain some political advantage by having their manifesto launch yesterday when everyone knows it was due for publication last week. It was postponed because of the terrible events in Manchester.
“It was a very disappointing comment from the leader of a major political party. She should have more respect for her opponents, but also for the people who are suffering as a result of last week’s tragedy.
“To suggest a political party would make capital out of what happened in Manchester is beneath her. Clearly she should apologise.”
Kate Forbes, the SNP MSP, tweeted: “New low for @RuthDavidsonMSP to again scorn @theSNP manifesto launch ‘only 9 days before election’. She knows exactly why we postponed.”
SNP strategist Ross Colquhoun also took to Twitter. He posted: “Yes, @RuthDavidsonMSP our manifesto launch was cancelled out of respect for the tragic events in Manchester. *shakes head* #GE17.”
He added: “It’s come to be expected these days. Crass, insensitive and ill-judged.”
Moray SNP Councillor Paula Coy tweeted: “My goodness @RuthDavidsonMSP ! It was cancelled because of Manchester attack. This is vile in its truest sense.”
A SNP source said last night: “Ruth Davidson knows full well why the SNP manifesto launch was delayed for a week and was only published with nine days to go to the election.
“For her to try and make an issue of it in this way is utterly beneath contempt, and she should apologise.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: “Ruth has repeatedly said it’s totally understandable campaigning had to stop – and that includes the original launch of the SNP manifesto. Any suggestion to the contrary is completely inaccurate.”
During the interview Davidson insisted the SNP would not have a mandate to hold a second independence referendum even if it won half of all votes cast in Scotland. The SNP says it will complete a triple lock on a referendum if they win at least 30 seats
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