Goldie: SNP’s rhetorical bile not how a responsible government should behave

Speaking after FMQs today, Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, said:

"The SNP cannot be allowed to peddle these same four myths which Alex Salmond and his party again spouted at First Minister's Questions today.

"The SNP says Nat Fraser's appeal was made under criminal law – in fact it was made under ECHR, which the SNP enthusiastically supports.

"The SNP says the UK Supreme Court 'unlocks prison doors' – in fact Nat Fraser remains behind bars as the case has now been referred back to Scotland, to the Scottish Court of Criminal Appeal.

"The SNP says there is no such thing as British Law – in fact we have employment law, company law, welfare law and tax law amongst others which span the whole of the UK.

"The SNP says there is no such thing as a British Court – in fact the UK Supreme Court is made up of judges from all four parts of the United Kingdom, and judges on English, Scots and European law.

"Alex Salmond and Kenny MacAskill have badly mishandled this issue and their rhetorical bile has caused a great deal of unnecessary ill-feeling. Their sole gripe appears to be that this court is based in England, which is a pathetic reason to pick a fight.

"Scottish Conservatives will always stand up for Scotland but what we will not do is create an argument with our neighbours just for the sake of it. The SNP should be ashamed of itself – this is not how a responsible government behaves."

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