ENEMIES OF THE CROWN
Setting out his vision for Scotland, the former Chancellor also said ignoring the SNP would be "dangerously complacent".
Richard Percival
Scottish Political Correspondent
6 AUG 2022
Rishi Sunak set out his plan for Scotland if he were to become Tory leader (Image: PA)
Nicola Sturgeon an the SNP pose an “existential threat to our cherished union” as they plan for a second independence referendum, Rishi Sunak warned last night.
Laying out his plans for Scotland if he were to become prime minister and Tory leader, Mr Sunak also warned ignoring the SNP would be "dangerously complacent".
The comments mirror a pledge by rival Liz Truss, who said she would "ignore" Ms Sturgeon and she described the First Minister as an "attention seeker".
READ MORE: Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss lock horns over how to deal with after Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP
Mr Sunak pledged he would hold the SNP-led Scottish Government “publicly to account for its failed record” and lead the most active UK Government in Scotland for decades.
Setting out his plans for the union on Saturday, Mr Sunak promised he would send ministers north of the border more regularly as well as more appearances at Holyrood committees.
He pledged to reform the union unit within Number 10 and ensure "every single" government department operates UK-wide.
This is despite key policy areas like education and health having been in the control of Holyrood since devolution in 1999.
Mr Sunak's plan also includes bolstering the Scottish Conservatives and will involve conducting a review on how the central party can support Douglas Ross’ group.
The former Chancellor will also provide every target seat with a fully funded campaign manager to ensure that every target area has a proper pro-Union voice making the case for the Scottish Conservatives.
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Nicola Sturgeon an the SNP pose an “existential threat to our cherished union” as they plan for a second independence referendum, Rishi Sunak warned last night.
Laying out his plans for Scotland if he were to become prime minister and Tory leader, Mr Sunak also warned ignoring the SNP would be "dangerously complacent".
The comments mirror a pledge by rival Liz Truss, who said she would "ignore" Ms Sturgeon and she described the First Minister as an "attention seeker".
READ MORE: Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss lock horns over how to deal with after Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP
Mr Sunak pledged he would hold the SNP-led Scottish Government “publicly to account for its failed record” and lead the most active UK Government in Scotland for decades.
Setting out his plans for the union on Saturday, Mr Sunak promised he would send ministers north of the border more regularly as well as more appearances at Holyrood committees.
He pledged to reform the union unit within Number 10 and ensure "every single" government department operates UK-wide.
This is despite key policy areas like education and health having been in the control of Holyrood since devolution in 1999.
Mr Sunak's plan also includes bolstering the Scottish Conservatives and will involve conducting a review on how the central party can support Douglas Ross’ group.
The former Chancellor will also provide every target seat with a fully funded campaign manager to ensure that every target area has a proper pro-Union voice making the case for the Scottish Conservatives.
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Liz Truss will not apologise to Nicola Sturgeon over 'attention seeker' commentsFormer Scottish Secretary David Mundell backs Liz Truss to rise above Nicola Sturgeon's 'petty nationalist games'
In addition, Mr Sunak highlighted the SNP’s record of failure on several policy areas including Scotland's poor A&E waiting times and the country having one the highest drug death rates in Europe.
The campaign also highlighted his success on financial funding for Scotland delivering around £41 billion per year whilst he was Chancellor.
Recent polls, Mr Sunak's team has stressed, show he is more popular than the Foreign Secretary in Scotland.
Mr Sunak said: “Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP pose an existential threat to our cherished Union. Arguing that we should ignore them is dangerously complacent.
“We can’t just bury our heads in the sand and pretend they aren’t there - we need to stop them in their tracks.
“And that’s exactly what I would do as Prime Minister - holding the SNP to account for its failings and personally ensuring that the UK Government has a laser focus on delivering for every part of our United Kingdom.”
In response, SNP MP Mhairi Black said Mr Sunak does not have "the faintest idea" what ordinary people are dealing with.
She added: “"Rishi Sunak is the same man who has slashed Universal Credit by over £1,000 for millions, hiked National Insurance payments and has now just admitted he wants to take public money from the areas that need it most and hand it over to the wealthier towns," she said.
"He has made it crystal clear that he stands for just one thing, making the rich richer and the poor poorer, and people across Scotland know this.
"As the richest MP in Westminster, he doesn't have the faintest idea what ordinary people in Scotland, and elsewhere, are facing daily during this Tory-made cost-of-living crisis as bills and food prices sky-rocket.
"Scotland hasn't voted for the Tories for more than 50 years, yet we keep getting saddled with Tory governments and Tory prime ministers who will only ever work to widen the inequalities gap and try to block Scotland's democratic right to choose its own future."
In addition, Mr Sunak highlighted the SNP’s record of failure on several policy areas including Scotland's poor A&E waiting times and the country having one the highest drug death rates in Europe.
The campaign also highlighted his success on financial funding for Scotland delivering around £41 billion per year whilst he was Chancellor.
Recent polls, Mr Sunak's team has stressed, show he is more popular than the Foreign Secretary in Scotland.
Mr Sunak said: “Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP pose an existential threat to our cherished Union. Arguing that we should ignore them is dangerously complacent.
“We can’t just bury our heads in the sand and pretend they aren’t there - we need to stop them in their tracks.
“And that’s exactly what I would do as Prime Minister - holding the SNP to account for its failings and personally ensuring that the UK Government has a laser focus on delivering for every part of our United Kingdom.”
In response, SNP MP Mhairi Black said Mr Sunak does not have "the faintest idea" what ordinary people are dealing with.
She added: “"Rishi Sunak is the same man who has slashed Universal Credit by over £1,000 for millions, hiked National Insurance payments and has now just admitted he wants to take public money from the areas that need it most and hand it over to the wealthier towns," she said.
"He has made it crystal clear that he stands for just one thing, making the rich richer and the poor poorer, and people across Scotland know this.
"As the richest MP in Westminster, he doesn't have the faintest idea what ordinary people in Scotland, and elsewhere, are facing daily during this Tory-made cost-of-living crisis as bills and food prices sky-rocket.
"Scotland hasn't voted for the Tories for more than 50 years, yet we keep getting saddled with Tory governments and Tory prime ministers who will only ever work to widen the inequalities gap and try to block Scotland's democratic right to choose its own future."
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