Fixing the broken relationship with mutual respect

Speaking in Edinburgh, William Hague, Shadow Foreign Secretary, says:

"The Conservatives are determined to repair the broken relationship between our Governments and Parliaments. Gordon Brown and Alex Salmond have damaged this relationship with petty party politics and a refusal to work together. They did not meet for nearly a year as the recession took hold. There was little, if any, co-operation over the release of Britain's biggest mass murderer, Abdel Basset Al Megrahi. Alistair Darling and his Treasury team refused to even answer a request to appear before the Scottish Parliament. This must change.

"If elected David Cameron will come to Scotland within the first week of becoming Prime Minister and meet with the First Minister. This would be a symbol of change to signal a fresh start, one based on mutual respect between two Governments."

"We need to work together for the good of Britain and the good of Scotland. There are crucial areas we can co-operate on including high speed rail, GP contracts, care for the elderly, alcohol pricing, National Citizen Service and energy."

David Mundell, Shadow Scottish Secretary says:

"We have to fix Britain's broken politics. We've got to repair the damage done by the SNP Government at Holyrood and the Labour Government at Westminster. We've got to stop the politics of grudge, gripe and grievance.

"Scotland deserves better. That is why we have to find a new way of working. The Conservative agenda of mutual respect is well established. But there are tangible reasons why it must be turned into reality.

"Not only will there be a team of Ministers across departments in a Conservative UK Government, charged with looking after Scotland's interests, there is a list of areas where we must work together. Conservatives want a high speed rail link between Scotland and England, we want tore-negotiate the GP contract to get a better deal for patients, we want to do more to care for our elderly and we want to give more teenagers the chance to do voluntary work.

"Already, in opposition, senior Shadow Cabinet colleagues such as George Osborne, Philip Hammond, Andrew Lansley and Theresa Villiers have discussed issues with Scottish government ministers. The challenge now to the SNP is to put aside their petty politics and to start acting like the government they were elected to be.

"The next few years are vital for the future of our country. We are all in this together. Can Alex Salmond raise his game and put Scotland first?"

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