Rishi Sunak and Douglas Ross to speak at the Scottish Tory conference
The Prime Minister is making a brief appearance in Glasgow
Last updated 28th Apr 2023
Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak will make an appearance at the Scottish Conservative’s conference in Glasgow today where he’ll accuse the SNP-led Scottish Government at Holyrood of focusing on "constitutional abstractions".
Mr Sunak is expected to tell delegates at the SEC: "It is time for a government at Holyrood that focuses on Scotland's real priorities, not constitutional abstractions.
"We, the UK Government, will get on with delivering for Scotland and the whole UK."
He’ll say he has "five priorities and they're priorities for the whole of UK".
"I want to halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce debt, cut waiting lists - which I know is the Scottish Government's responsibility - and stop the boats," he is expected to say.
It’s a nations double-header for the PM who will travel on to speak at the Welsh Conservative Conference.
Tactical voting row
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross looks set to use his conference speech to row back on previous comments suggesting a push for tactical voting to unseat the SNP in Scotland.
But within hours of the comments a spokesman for the UK Conservative Party said it was "emphatically not" their position, while a report in the Scotsman quoted senior Tory MSPs saying they were not consulted about the comments.
Speaking at the Scottish Tory conference in Glasgow on Friday, Mr Ross is expected to tell attendees "the best way" to beat the SNP is to "vote for the Scottish Conservatives".
He will say: "This failing SNP Government, mired in scandal and sleaze, cannot focus on governing our country.
"They cannot tackle the big challenges Scotland faces.
"It is painfully obvious that Humza Yousaf is not up to the job of being First Minister.
Holyrood "power grab"
Mr Ross is also expected to announce his party will push to ensure local communities will have a "final say" on energy developments in their area, attacking Scottish Government overturning of planning decisions on wind farms as a "Holyrood power grab".
"That is why I am announcing today that we will bring forward a Community Energy Benefit Law," he will tell party members.
Mr Ross will also use his speech to attack the ongoing turmoil within the SNP, claiming the events of recent months "have blown a huge hole in the economic case for independence".
He will say to the party faithful: "The SNP cannot even manage their own accounts, how can they be trusted on the finances of an independent Scotland?
"Nobody will ever believe a nationalist on currency, pensions and balancing the books ever again.
"We have always known that our arguments on trade, currency and jobs were stronger - and the 2014 referendum proved that.
"Through their own blunders, the nationalists have crashed the case for independence."
Rishi Sunak's rise to the top
Rishi Sunak and his wife
Rishi Sunak is MP for Richmond in Yorkshire. He was born in Southampton to parents of Indian descent and is married to Akshata Murty (pictured) daughter of Indian billionaire N. R. Narayana Murthy, they have two daughters together.
Rishi Sunak as Chancellor
Sunak was elected as an MP in 2015, becoming Chief Secretary to the Treasury in 2019. Boris Johnson made him Chancellor of the Exchequer in 2020.
Rishi Sunak during Covid
Sunak became a key member of the government during Covid, often appearing at press conferences and introducing the furlough scheme during the pandemic.
Rishi Sunak in the cabinet
Sunak remained Chancellor until resigning in July 2022, shortly before Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced he was stepping down.
Rishi Sunak leadership bid
After Boris stepped down, Sunak was one of many MPs who put themselves forward to become the new leader of the tory party. Despite getting to the final two candidates, party members voted for Liz Truss who became Prime Minister.
Rishi Sunak King Charles
When Liz Truss resigned after only 45 days as PM Rishi Sunak stood again. After Boris Johnson ruled himself out of the leadership contest race, and Penny Mordaunt withdrew her candidacy, Sunak was announced as the new Conservative leader on 24 October and was appointed by King Charles III the next day.