THE SNP have hit out at a “litany of broken promises” from the Tories after Douglas Ross took aim at a Scottish Government video about Brexit.
The video details the negative impacts Brexit will have on Scotland, including reducing migration, extra bureaucratic red tape, reduced national security, and damaging food and drink exports.
Shared on Twitter by the @scotgov account, the video concludes by saying: “Scotland did not vote to leave the EU, and we cannot prevent every negative outcome but we will work hard to mitigate the worst effects of Brexit.
Scotland didn’t vote to leave the EU, but we will work hard to mitigate the worst effects of #Brexit.
— Scottish Government (@scotgov) December 30, 2020
Here’s what it means for Scotland ⬇
Read more at https://t.co/e6Wq5SbqiO pic.twitter.com/MsbnPAQwYK
“We believe that Scotland has the right to choose a better future as an independent country and member of the European Union.”
Sharing a screenshot from the video which shows the text “a better future as an independent country”, Ross said it was “disgraceful” that the Scottish Government was “flouting strict rules of impartiality”.
He also said he would be writing to the UK cabinet secretary and Scottish permanent secretary to “demand an explanation around taxpayers’ money being used to promote separation”.
This is disgraceful - Scottish Gov’t civil servants flouting strict rules of impartiality pushing out @theSNP propaganda.
— Douglas Ross MP (@Douglas4Moray) December 31, 2020
I have written to the UK Cabinet Secretary and @scotgov Permanent Secretary to demand an explanation around taxpayers money being used to promote separation pic.twitter.com/e6Kb03ClHw
Responding to Ross’s tweet, the SNP’s Mhairi Black told The National that the Tories’ were "destroying any chance the Union had".
The MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South said: “What’s ‘disgraceful’ here is the betrayal of Scottish fishermen by Douglas Ross and the Scottish Tories, and their litany of broken promises to the people of Scotland.
“For all his talk about standing up for Scotland, it’s clear that he is just Boris Johnson’s latest mouthpiece.
“It’s no wonder he’s so prickly – when his boss is destroying any chance the Union had before our very eyes.”
The SNP also pointed to similar videos from the UK Government, including one which claims the Brexit deal "fully delivers on what the British public voted for".
The United Kingdom has agreed a Free Trade Agreement with the European Union.
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) December 24, 2020
See what this deal means for you ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/x4DetmQqcO
Recent figures from the UK Government show Luke Graham, the head of Downing Street's "Union Unit", is paid between £90,000-£94,999 per year to combat growing pro-independence sentiment in the media and "strengthen the Union". It is unclear if Ross will be addressing this in his letter.
The Scottish Tories have been approached for comment.
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