Support for the new Prime Minister
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MORAY'S MP has further defended his decision to back Boris Johnson in the Conservative leadership race.
The new Prime Minister has been heavily criticised in the media for perceived derogatory comments towards Scotland, accepting a 'no-deal' Brexit as a viable outcome, being open to the idea of an General Election called without a mandate, and clashing with Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson.
Douglas Ross MP said: "Boris Johnson made it very clear on the steps of Downing Street, just minutes after becoming Prime Minister, how important Scotland and the union of the United Kingdom is to him.
"I was encouraged by all of the candidates in the leadership election saying their priority was leaving the EU with a deal - I know the new Prime Minister will work tirelessly to deliver this but I think his efforts will be aided by the fact that No Deal remains an option as that is the way to get the best deal for the UK with the EU.
"Our system of Parliamentary democracy means there is no requirement for an election, in the same way there was no election when Gordon Brown took over from Tony Blair, or when Nicola Sturgeon took over from Alex Salmond.
"Ruth and I are both individual members of the party and have the right to choose to support different candidates, but she has been clear that the party has to unite around the new Prime Minister and work together for the good of the country."
Meanwhile, Moray's MSP is not convinced the Conservative membership made the right choice to lead the UK's Government.
Richard Lochhead said: "With his unwavering support for Boris Johnson, our local Tory MP couldn’t be more out of touch with ordinary voters.
"A recent poll showed that 65 per cent of Scottish voters believe that he will be a terrible Prime Minister. The vast majority of people across the country believe him to be incompetent, untrustworthy and completely out of touch.
"Not only has the new Prime Minister just appointed the most extreme right wing Cabinet imaginable, but he’s also gearing up to crash out of the EU without a deal, which would be a disaster for Moray."
He added: "It is astonishing that Douglas Ross is now a cheerleader for someone who is willing to throw Scottish jobs on the scrapheap and make each and every one of us poorer, just to satisfy the Brexit fanatics on the right wing of the Tory party."
