RUTH Davidson has publicly attacked Boris Johnson for his “disrespectful” speech to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference.
The Prime Minister has been widely criticised after the chaotic address, which included references to Peppa Pig World, Vladimir Lenin and Moses. The Tory leader also made car noises and lost his place for around 30 seconds.
The shoddy display prompted questions about his wellbeing, with Johnson forced to assure the public he was “okay” after the speech.
But reports suggest the incident has raised further doubts on Downing Street and among Conservative politicians.
Baroness Davidson, who was recently appointed to the House of Lords, issued a scathing verdict on the speech after it was branded “painful to watch” by David Cameron’s former communications director, Craig Oliver.
Davidson tweeted: “Craig Oliver's analysis on @BBCNewsnight is right.
“The fundamental thing about today's speech is that it was disrespectful. British business deserves more than chaotic and unprepared boosterism. It needs to know government understands the current huge challenges and will help.”
Craig Oliver's analysis on @BBCNewsnight is right. The fundamental thing about today's speech is that it was disrespectful. British business deserves more than chaotic and unprepared boosterism. It needs to know government understands the current huge challenges and will help.
— Ruth Davidson (@RuthDavidsonPC) November 22, 2021
Oliver, who also served as Cameron’s political director during his time in Number 10, warned Johnson that the address could prove to be highly damaging.
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He told BBC Newsnight: “All Downing Streets have a moment where people say everybody inside is absolutely terrible, it’s all falling apart and they’re really losing their grip. I think the problem for Boris Johnson today is that speech is not that unusual for him.
“Anybody who’s seen him talk or speak before knows that he’s capable of floundering around, making huge mistakes. The problem is it comes off the back of a series of mistakes and the accusation is going to be … this is a Number 10 that doesn’t have a grip, it is lacking in competence and if they’re not careful that will stick.”
Davidson has been critical of her former Westminster boss in the past.
She criticised the Prime Minister for proroguing Parliament and urged him to U-turn on the decision to cut free school meals in England. The former MSP also said being “conflicted over Brexit" was one of the reasons she resigned her leadership of the Scottish Tories.
Davidson, now the Baroness of Lundin Links, was nominated for the House of Lords in 2019 by the “Leader of the Conservative Party”.
However, she has suggested the nomination was not formally proposed by Johnson, claiming to be “genuinely astonished” that the Prime Minister didn’t block it.
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