Douglas Ross calls for Sturgeon no confidence vote as SNP ‘abuse power and cover up truth’

Nicola Sturgeon: Douglas Ross discusses no confidence vote

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Mr Ross today suggested a range of measures to strengthen the power of Holyrood and MSPs after the Scottish Government conceded a legal challenge by the former Scottish First Minister into the investigation. The Scottish Conservative leader called for elected select committee chairs like the House of Commons and enhanced parliamentary privilege.

The Scottish Conservative leader called for elected select committee chairs like the House of Commons and enhanced parliamentary privilege.

He also said the Deputy First Minister should not be in sole charge of Ministerial Code investigations.

Mr Salmond’s legal challenge led to the former Scottish first minister being awarded more than £500,000 in legal costs.

The SNP led Scottish Governments investigation was ruled unlawful and “tainted by apparent bias”, with a £512,250 payout being awarded in January 2019.

A Holyrood inquiry has since been set up to investigate the Governments actions and has seen both Nicola Sturgeon and Mr Salmond give evidence.

Mr Salmond claimed there was a “malicious and concerted” attempt by several people to see him removed from public life.

He also accused the Scottish First Minister of breaching the Scottish Government’s ministerial code accused of lying to parliament over meetings between the pair in 2018 regarding the harassment claims.

But Ms Sturgeon denied the allegations and hit out at the former First Minister causing a bitter feud between the Nationalist bigshots.

James Hamilton QC is currently investigating whether Ms Sturgeon broke the code.

Mr Salmond was also acquitted of 13 charges following a criminal trial last year.

Speaking at an event organised by Onward think tank, he added: “There has been a continual focus on debating what powers the Scottish Parliament ought to have, rather than on how we better deploy and scrutinise the use of its existing powers.

“As a result, the Scottish Parliament has become frozen in time, increasingly dated in its 1999 model of operating, despite its expanding remit.”

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The Scottish Conservative leader also reaffirmed the party’s commitment to bring forward a motion of no confidence into John Swinney this week.

The Tories submitted a motion of no confidence in the Deputy First Minister last week over the Scottish Government’s refusal to hand over legal advice.

They are now bringing the vote forward after initial bits of legal advice released by SNP ministers last week revealed the Scottish Government’s lawyers admitted Mr Salmond was likely to win the legal challenge.

The legal advice revealed the Scottish Government’s Counsel warned that the case was “more likely to fail than succeed” on October 31, 2018 and “the least worst option” would be to concede on December 6.

Nicola Sturgeon resignation ‘crucial’ for restoring trust says Ross

He added: “We will bring these Votes of No Confidence forward because it is the right thing to do.

“The evidence of what they have done wrong is overwhelming.

“It is the job of Scotland’s opposition to call that out – not to run and hide from the SNP.

“When they abuse their power, cover up the truth, and trample on Parliament – don’t let them away with it. Join with us and stand up to them.

“Let’s confront them together. Let’s send a message that we are Scotland’s opposition and what they have done, what they are doing, to the Scottish Parliament will not be tolerated.”

Mr Ross also took aim at recent polls suggesting Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP would be victorious in the upcoming Scottish elections as the Tories prepare to launch their Holyrood election campaign this weekend.

The Moray MP said he was “not afraid of Nicola Sturgeon’s poll numbers” and “no other opposition leaders should be either.”

He continued: “The SNP do not see the running of a devolved institution within the UK as an end in itself but as a means to further their political campaign for independence.

“They originally opposed the formation of a devolved Scottish Parliament because they believed that it would hinder the campaign for independence.

“The gradualist argument that eventually persuaded the party to shift its position, was that the parliament could actually be used to secure independence.”

The Scottish Conservative leader later told Express.co.uk Boris Johnson would also be helpful during the campaign.

He said new UK schemes such as the levelling up fund and the COVID-19 vaccine rollout by the British Army were “positive things to sell to people in Scotland”.

Mr Ross added the PMs decisions are “positive for Scotland” but stressed “I’m leading the party in Scotland, it’s my team, my manifesto”

In response, a spokeswoman for the SNP said: “Just when you thought it wasn’t possible for the Scottish Tories to stoop any lower, Douglas Ross still manages.

“The Tories are showing their true colours – this is nothing but a political game to them and instead of letting due process take place, they’d rather be hysterical and opportunistic.

“There have been thousands of documents handed over to the committee including legal documents.

“The FM spent an entire day at committee answering detailed questions and many more hours at FMQs. Every question has been answered.

“When are Boris Johnson, Priti Patel, Matt Hancock and others going to face even an iota of this kind of scrutiny over misleading Westminster and MPs from the parliament that Douglas Ross actually sits in?

“This is really desperate stuff from the Scottish Tories who believe there should be different rules for their political masters in London.”

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