THE SNP has accused Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross of “failing to stand up for Scotland” over the rising threat to Scottish farmers and crofters from the Tory government's Australia trade deal.

MP Deidre Brock, the SNP environment, food and rural affairs spokesperson, said Ross was making claims that are “simply not credible” after a BBC Sunday Show interview in which the Tory leader repeatedly dodged questions and gave misleading answers.

When challenged by presenter Martin Geissler on why was there "no dialogue between the UK and Scottish Government" on the deal, Ross said International Trade Secretary Liz Truss had conducted “extensive dialogue” across Scotland.

He was asked about the concerns of Scotland's farming communities on tariff-free imports and responded: “I can understand concerns have been highlighted but I'm not sure we will see them coming to fruition.”

When challenged on the threat of zero-tariff deals with the USA, Brazil and other countries, Ross claimed “they are very separate deals ... we have said there is no precedent in any of these deals, we go about them on an individual basis”.

Brock said: “Yet again, Douglas Ross is failing to stand up for Scotland over the damaging Tory Australia trade deal, which poses a growing threat to Scottish farmers and crofters.

“It speaks volumes that the Scottish Tory leader was unable to name any benefits for Scottish beef and lamb farmers – who face being undercut on price and standards, and left unable to compete with industrial-scale farming abroad.

“Scotland has been sidelined, ignored and kept in the dark throughout these negotiations.

“No meaningful protections have been introduced for Scottish farmers and crofters, who are being completely shafted - just as the Tories sold out Scotland's fishing communities through Brexit.”

Ross, who is from an agricultural background, repeatedly claimed the deal would benefit the whisky sector, telling the programme: “It's a very positive deal for the Scotch whisky industry I think if you look at the reaction on this deal, now it's been signed there has been some very positive reaction, and some concerns remain that there are safeguards in place.

“I think we've got to look at this deal in the round there are opportunities for Scottish and UK agriculture, there are certainly significant opportunities for the Scotch whisky industry which obviously has a huge link into the arable sector, and agriculture in general here in Scotland.”

Ross dismissed a remark from Australian Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormick that he did not care what impact the deal would have on Scottish farmers because Australian farmers were the big winners: “I would expect an Australian politician to come out of the deal and claim that it is good for his country and his electorate in the same way that Liz Truss has rightly it confirmed that this is good for us ... 

"It is big for Scotch whisky because it's a huge benefit to that industry, and that industry relies on our farmers here in Scotland, arable producers, ensuring there is enough supplies to produce the increased volumes of whisky that hopefully we will export.”

However, Brock added: “There is the very real danger that many Scottish farmers and crofters will lose income and be put out of business, with agricultural workers losing their jobs, if the Australia deal goes ahead in its current form – especially if it is replicated in future deals with the USA, Brazil and other industrial farming countries that will also demand tariff-free access to the UK.

“It's simply not credible for Douglas Ross to claim that no precedent has been set for future trade deals when it clearly has.

“It's clear the Scottish Tories will roll over and rubber stamp any Downing Street deal, no matter how damaging it is for Scotland.

“Scotland is increasingly vulnerable under Westminster control. It's clearer than ever that the only way to keep Scotland safe from the long-term damage of Brexit and Tory trade deals is to become an independent country.”