THE Tories are "putting more reasons in people's heads to support independence", an audience member said on Debate Night as she shot down Stephen Kerr.
Scottish Tory chief whip Kerr argued on the BBC's panel show that the Union between Scotland and England was "greater than any passing politician" after a confidence vote on Boris Johnson saw 148 of his MPs turn against him.
But an audience member immediately put him in his place as she argued people across the entire Conservative party – not just Johnson – were continually giving people Scots reasons to back self-determination.
She accused Tories of not caring about people and said everyone was "fed up" with them.
Kerr made a case for the union saying it was linked to "kith and kin" as he talked about his children and grandchildren.
He said: "This Union between Scotland and England, which has lasted over 300 years, is greater than any passing politician.
READ MORE: Michael Gove says he would not run against Boris Johnson for Tory leader
"All politicians are here today and gone tomorrow but this Union, which has seen us through good times and tough times, as it did through the pandemic, is the representation of something far greater than a mere calculation or a transaction, it is the representation of things to do with kith and kin.
"We have four children, three of them live in England. We have 11 grandchildren, nine live in England. Am I about to start talking about breaking up these islands? Of course I’m not, and I don't believe the vast majority of Scots are either."
The female audience member then said: "The actions of not just Boris Johnson but the entire Conservative government in the UK are just putting more reasons in people’s heads to support independence.
"They’re continuously showing they don’t care, that they’re willing to bend the rules for themselves. They are not proving they are willing to work for the people. Everyone is fed up of feeling uncared for."
READ MORE: Ian Blackford mocks Boris Johnson after confidence vote - watch the brilliant exchange
Aberdeen South and North Kincardine SNP MSP Audrey Nicoll said what had gone on in Westminster this week was "utterly woeful" and insisted it strengthened the case for independence.
Asked if it had been a good week for the SNP, she said: "I don’t think it’s been a good week for anyone. What’s gone on in Westminster in terms of the vote, it's just utterly woeful, to be honest. We’ve got a Prime Minister who admitted that he lied, admitted that he misled parliament, and he survived a vote of no confidence. What's baffling to me is his cabinet all voted to support him.
"My view is it strengthens the case for independence. We’ve been working extremely hard for the people of Scotland and all the time the people in Westminster have been partying."
Kerr said this was a "grotesque misrepresentation".
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