Moray MP Douglas Ross and MSP Richard Lochhead clash over Scotland Office, Brexit and Indyref2

MORAY MP Douglas Ross has pledged to use his new role at the Scotland Office to continue his efforts to "get Moray's voice heard in Westminster and to deliver for our area".

However, he also looks set to remain on collision course with the SNP over Brexit and Indyref 2.

After retaining his Moray seat by 513 votes from SNP challenger Laura Mitchell, Mr Ross was appointed to work under Scottish Secretary Alister Jack by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

“The first few days after my appointment saw me at Dover House which is the home of the Scotland Office in Whitehall, getting settled into my new office and working with the team who are there to support me.

"I have an office next to the Secretary of State and we have always worked well together so we’re able to continue this following my appointment.

“It’s a great role to be asked to take on and I will be doing a lot of engagement with stakeholders across Scotland and can also work on a number of issues that directly affect Moray such as the Moray Growth Deal or working to get the US tariffs removed from products such as Scotch Whisky, cashmere and shortbread."

Mr Ross said getting the Brexit bill through parliament was the pressing priority.

"While Moray had a close vote on Brexit in 2016, with only 122 votes separating Leave and Remain, many people I spoke to during the campaign wanted to see Brexit delivered so we can all move on and this vote in Parliament allows that.

“There have also been calls from the SNP to have another referendum to separate Scotland from the rest of the UK, this is despite Nicola Sturgeon promising this election was not about independence and the word never featuring on a single SNP leaflet here in Moray.

"Sadly people across Scotland, who were told they could vote for the SNP and their vote would not be taken as a vote for separation, have again been let down by the SNP.

“I will oppose another referendum as I want the UK and Scottish governments to work together to deliver for people in Moray and across Scotland and I want the SNP to focus on their job of running the Scottish Government and areas they have powers over such as health, education, policing and funding for local governments.

"Delivery of these services came up time and time again with people I met during the election campaign and I really think the SNP should prioritise on delivering in these areas rather than another divisive referendum."

The first week back at Westminster in January will see Mr Ross make his debut at the Dispatch Box in the House of Commons when he answers Scottish Questions.

He said: "There is so much history surrounding these dispatch boxes and some of the greatest politicians in our history have spoken from them over the years. I’ll have to pinch myself to think I’ll be speaking from the same dispatch box I learnt about in modern studies at Forres Academy.

“As the first MP for Moray to be asked to serve in government since Gordon Campbell was Secretary of State in 1974 I want to use this role to continue my efforts to get Moray’s voice heard in Westminster and to deliver for our area.”

However, Moray MSP Richard Lochhead labelled the Scotland Office as a "complete waste of tax payers money".

And he branded it "little more than an anti-SNP propaganda unit".

Mr Lochhead added: “ Across Scotland the SNP achieved phenomenal success and Boris Johnson’s Conservatives lost over half their seats at the same time as England was going Tory blue.

"The divergence north and south of the border has never been greater and the electorate in Moray and Scotland deserves to have the choice of pursuing a better future and an alternative to the right wing and small minded isolationist Tories who are taking Scotland out of the EU against our wishes.

“Douglas Ross was returned by the skin of his teeth and was only saved because of an anti-Corbyn vote and also the fact that the extremist Brexit Party gave him a helping hand by withdrawing their candidate. Now Mr Ross who represents a constituency with an economy that relies on exports wants to cut us off from Europe."