Moray's MP backs the winner
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MORAY'S MP has defended his decision to support the new Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.
Ahead of the announcement that Mr Johnson beat his colleague Jeremy Hunt by 92,153 votes to 46,656, fellow Conservative Douglas Ross said: "I’m supporting Boris to deliver Brexit, defeat Jeremy Corbyn at the next election and create a brighter future for Moray, Scotland and the entire United Kingdom."
However, Moray's SNP MSP Richard Lochhead attacked Mr Johnson for his "abhorrent views" and "vulgar politics".
Mr Ross initially backed Mark Harper MP in the leadership race but switched to Mr Johnson when the contest narrowed to a choice between him and the current Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
Mr Ross took a different stance to the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson, and the Scottish Secretary, David Mundell, both Hunt supporters.
"Moray had one of the closest Brexit votes in Scotland and we need a Leave voter to deliver it - Boris is best-placed to do that.
"Part of my thought process was the range of support Boris has received from across the political spectrum in the Conservative Party. With over half of the parliamentary party backing him, he had the support of MPs who voted Remain and loyally supported the current Prime Minister to those who voted Leave and refused to back the Withdrawal Agreement. All think he is best placed to take us through Brexit."
On his original support for Mr Harper, he added: "I supported Mark Harper as I wanted someone with cabinet experience but who had not been part of Theresa May’s administration. We needed a clean break and Mark had been in the cabinet as a previous chief whip and was a successful minister in many departments.
"When he was eliminated from the contest I thought long and hard over who to support."
Following the vote to withdraw from the European Union, Mr Johnson was widely regarded as the front-runner to succeed David Cameron as Prime Minister. However, he announced he would not stand in the 2016 leadership contest after Michael Gove, his campaign manager, withdrew his support and announced his own candidacy.
As a newspaper columnist, Mr Johnson was accused of making up quotes, exaggerating Eurosceptic stories, and using inappropriate language in articles concerning race and sexuality.
He was criticised for comments made as Foreign Secretary, with regard to British citizen Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who is in jail in Iran on spying charges. Mr Johnson was reported to have said Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was in the country to teach journalism.
Mr Ross added: "Boris has the backing of a former Commissioner of the Met Police, Bernard Hogan-Howe, who worked with him when he was Mayor of London. To me this shows that, while there are criticisms of his approach, senior people who have worked alongside Boris believe he is ready for this job."
Mr Lochhead claimed Boris Johnson as PM would be bad news for Moray and Scotland.
The SNP member said: "It would make the UK even more of a laughing stock internationally. His abhorrent views and approach to public office make him wholly inappropriate for leadership or to be even allowed a sniff of power.
"He is an elitist Trump impersonator and complete charlatan and is not fit to lead the country. His vulgar politics do not represent the tolerant and decent values of people in Moray."
He added: "It’s difficult to fathom why Douglas Ross is supporting this extreme right-wing Brexiteer unless he’s seen the way the wind is blowing in his party and wishes to bag himself a third job. Whatever his reason, if Boris wins and subsequently inflicts even more damage on Moray Mr Ross will reap what he has sown."
