DOUGLAS Ross using the war in Ukraine as an excuse to defend Boris Johnson’s law-breaking actions is “the lowest of the low”, Scotland’s First Minister has said.
Nicola Sturgeon’s intervention comes after the Scottish Tory leader drew criticism for a BBC interview in which he conjured images of “innocent men, women and children” being buried in shallow graves while defending the Prime Minister.
Ross, who previously said Johnson should resign over partygate before U-turning on that in March, denied the Prime Minister should resign after he and the Chancellor were issued fixed-penalty notices for breaching Covid rules at a birthday party.
“Anything that would destabilise the UK Government at this time would be a bonus to Vladimir Putin,” Ross told BBC’s Good Morning Scotland.
“He is indiscriminately killing innocent people and I will do nothing to help and support a war criminal like Putin.”
Many politicians heavily criticised Ross’s excuse – including SNP MP Stewart McDonald, who said it was “revolting” to see the Tories use “the blood of dead Ukrainians as a shield”.
Speaking to Bauer, Sturgeon attacked Douglas Ross for his defence of the Prime Minister. She referred to other excuses offered by politicians, including Michael Fabricant's claim that nursing and teaching staff had gone for "quiet drinks" after working during lockdown, but poured particular scorn on the Moray MP's reasoning.
“Perhaps the lowest of the low, the use of the horror and suffering of people in Ukraine as a reason why Boris Johnson should stay in office,” the First Minister told the broadcaster.
“Douglas Ross has been in some ways leading that particular line, and how he can look himself in the mirror let alone look anybody in Scotland in the eye is beyond me.
“At a time of real serious issues for the UK to confront, surely it’s all the more important that the incumbent in Number 10 is a Prime Minister who can lead with moral authority.”
READ MORE: Nurse's petition urging Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak to quit hits 300,000 signatures
Sturgeon went on to say that Johnson and Sunak’s refusal to step down is an example of a bigger problem in UK politics.
“Look there’s basic norms of democracy here,” she said. “Parliamentary democracy, particularly one under first past the post where you often have a single-party majority – the checks and balances required for that to work properly mean that accepted rules of behaviour have to be in place, really basic things like telling the truth to parliament, then there has to be agreed consequences if those standards of behaviour are breached. That’s always been the case.”
The SNP chief said that isn’t happening anymore and Tories are refusing to abide by long-established norms of democracy.
“So yes of course it’s about the personal conduct of the Prime Minister but it’s actually much bigger and more fundamental than that,” she went on.
“I would ask and encourage Tories in the House of Commons to really think long and hard about this, because every time they turn a blind eye to the misconduct of Boris Johnson, every time they use that majority to ride roughshod over democracy, they become complicit in all of this. And perhaps send a message that none of them have a shred of decency or integrity. It’s not just the Prime Minister.”
Meanwhile, former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson - who does think Johnson should resign - was telling reporters that Ross had been left in a difficult position.
READ MORE: Douglas Ross: Edinburgh SNP voter throws back Tory leaflet in dramatic rejection
While out campaigning together in Edinburgh, the Baroness said: “I’ve got no issue with Douglas.
“I think Douglas has been put in a terrible position. Probably the hardest position that any Scottish leader ever has been, and as somebody who was the leader for eight years, I know what it’s like to have been dumped in it by colleagues down south.
“I think Douglas was pretty, pretty gutsy to come out early to say that this wasn’t on.”
Davidson went on to say that Johnson’s continuation in the job meant the office of Prime Minister was being “traduced”.
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