Sunak and Truss pledge more scrutiny of the Scottish Government in race to become next PM
The two Tory leadership hopefuls will go head-to-head at a hustings in Perth tonight
Last updated 16th Aug 2022
The two Conservative leadership contenders are promising greater scrutiny of Scottish Government if they become the next prime minister.
Liz Truss is vowing to give MSPs special legal protection, allowing them to be more outspoken as they scrutinise decisions made by the devolved government.
Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak is promising that Scottish civil servants will face greater scrutiny from Westminster, while UK ministers will be required to be more visible in Scotland.
Ms Truss said:
"Having grown up in Paisley, I consider myself to be a child of the Union. When I say I'll deliver for our country, I mean all of it.
"I will never let anyone talk down Scotland's potential. As a nation we are stronger together and the UK needs Scotland as much as Scotland needs the UK.
"For too long, people in Scotland have been let down by the SNP focusing on constitutional division instead of their priorities. That won't happen under my watch."
She added:
"I'll make sure that my government does everything to ensure elected representatives hold the devolved administration to account for its failure to deliver the quality public services, particularly health and education, that Scottish people deserve.
"As prime minister and minister for the Union, I will deliver on my ambitious plan to capitalise on the opportunity we have to turbocharge the growth and business investment required to get Scotland's economy moving."
Ms Truss's campaign has said she would push for a trade deal with India if made prime minister, with the aim of slashing a longstanding 150% tariff on whisky exports.
She says she would change the Scotland Act to give parliamentary privilege to MSPs, in order to create more "robust questioning" of ministers.
Mr Sunak has promised to make it a requirement for Scotland's most senior civil servant, the permanent secretary to the Scottish Government, to attend Westminster's Public Affairs and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee each year.
The former chancellor has also promised to enforce 'consistent reporting of public service performance data across the country' - so that UK Government could hold Scottish Government accountable for essential public service delivery.
Mr Sunak said:
"The future of the United Kingdom is bright but our Union must work together, each nation shoulder to shoulder, to get there.
"We must defeat the collective challenges threatening the health of our public services. Under my plans the UK Government will play its part, but the same must be reciprocated by Holyrood.
"For too long the SNP has been able to obscure its failures by picking and choosing the data it publishes - I would change that, ensuring the Scottish Government's record could be held to account, while ensuring our public services are better joined up.
"Scottish senior civil servants will also face greater scrutiny, with the permanent secretary to the Scottish Government required to appear annually at a UK Parliament Select Committee hearing."
On Saturday, Ms Truss accused devolved leaders in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland of playing 'political games' rather than delivering for voters.
Her comments came after she sparked controversy by denouncing Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as an 'attention seeker' suggesting she would ignore her demands for a fresh referendum on independence.