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Liz: I’ll put the Union at the heart of government

By Cameron Charters

LIZ Truss has promised to put the Union at the heart of government if she becomes the next Prime Minister.

Ahead of her visit to Perth this week, the Tory leadership frontrunner accused the SNP of ‘playing political games’ with the constitution.

Explaining that she was brought up in Paisley and Leeds, she declared herself a ‘child of the Union’.

In a pitch to Scottish Conservative Party members ahead of a vote to decide who succeeds Boris Johnson, Ms Truss also pledged to improve living standards across the country and to help find new markets for Scotland’s biggest export, whisky.

Highlighting the disastrous 15 years of SNP misrule – and having branded Nicola Sturgeon an ‘attention seeker’ who should be ignored – she said the Scottish Government had focused on a second referendum rather than ruling for the benefit of all.

Ms Truss said: ‘As Prime Minister, I would also hold the role of Minister for the Union and seek to strengthen it.

‘My government would put the Union at the heart of everything it does and ensure that all corners of our country are rightly championed at the very top of government.

‘For too long, people in parts of our United Kingdom have been let down by their devolved administrations playing politi

‘If elected, I will deliver for our whole country’

cal games instead of focusing on their priorities. If elected Prime Minister, I will deliver for our whole country.’

Ms Truss also said she would work to improve all parts of the Union by utilising its unique strengths. One of her strategies would be to focus on the economic gains to be made from products closely linked to devolved nations – in Scotland this would be whisky.

Ms Truss explained: ‘My Trade Secretary would follow in my footsteps and open new markets for our Scotch whisky, Welsh lamb and ships in Northern Ireland.’

She has also pledged to work with local communities, at a time when council workers across Scotland are caught up in pay disputes with Cosla, the umbrella organisation for local authorities.

Calling for unity, with the Union under threat from the SNP, Ms Truss said: ‘We are not four separate nations in an agreement of convenience, as some would have us believe. We are one great country which shares a history and institutions, but also family and friends, memories and values. I would ensure that our entire family continues to get the attention, support and investment that it deserves.’

Her message for Scotland has found support from many senior Conservative Party MSPs. So far, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Rachael Hamilton, Murdo Fraser, Finlay Carson and Douglas Lumsden have backed her.

Their show of support comes ahead of her showdown with Rishi Sunak this Tuesday in Perth at a hustings, when the former Foreign Secretary and Chancellor will outline their visions for the future of Scotland. There are between 8,000 and 10,000 Conservative Party members north of the Border who could prove crucial in the final result, due next month.

Last night Ms Hamilton, Conservative spokesman for rural affairs, said Ms Truss’s experience in high office and her plans for the economy were reasons for supporting her.

She also said Ms Truss has defended the rights of women and girls, which she believes are under threat. Ms Hamilton told this newspaper: ‘Liz will lead from the front and is a breath of fresh air.

‘We are facing tough times ahead and Liz Truss, a strong unionist, has the depth and breadth of experience to take on the role of Prime Minister.

‘She’s a strong advocate of women and girls’ rights, which is important to me because I see some of those crucial protections being undermined.’

She added: ‘Liz has a clear and bold plan to turbocharge the UK economy by cutting the corporation tax, red tape and bureaucracy that suffocates people and businesses.’ She said this would ‘raise more money for essential public services’.

‘Strong advocate of women’s rights’

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