Ruth Davidson’s New Year Message: Scotland is Better Off in Britain

Scottish Conservative leader, Ruth Davidson, has issued her New Year's message. In it she pledges to make the case that Scotland is better off in Britain and calls upon the First Minister to stop acting like an Agitator in Chief and to get on with what he was elected to do.

Ruth says:

"Times have been tough since the 2008 banking crisis and the full extent of Labour's debt-and-deficit fantasy economics came home to roost.

"The medicine is a painful remedy but not acting would be catastrophic - think of the situations in Greece, Italy and Ireland. The UK coalition Government is working hard and doing well in steading the ship and rebalancing the economy.

"Against this backdrop - when ordinary Scots are worried about their job, making ends meet and their children's futures - it can seem anachronistic for Scottish politicians to spend so much time talking about the constitution. People are right to wonder why but it is the elephant in the room. I want nothing more than for Scottish MSPs to do what they were elected to do and for the Scottish Government to do what it was elected to do - represent the people of Scotland and work hard to improve the health, education, justice and culture of our nation.

"Alex Salmond was elected First Minister of the devolved administration, but often acts like the agitator in chief. He is picking fights with Westminster, creating division to further his goal of separatism when what Scotland really needs and wants is both of its governments - in Westminster and Holyrood - working together to improve jobs, training and opportunities for all.

"In a perverse way, that is why the referendum becomes so important as one result will lay the constitutional question to rest for a generation and the other forever. That is why I believe we need a referendum that is clear, unambiguous and not open to legal challenge. And, as two thirds of Scots agree, we need it sooner rather than later.

"As someone who believes that Scotland has contributed greatly and benefitted hugely from being part of the Union for three centuries, I will be working hard to put forward the message that Scotland is better off in Britain.

"But I'll also be putting pressure on Alex Salmond to put his eye back on the ball and do what he was primarily elected to do. That is to be the First Minister of Scotland's devolved parliament, working for the people of Scotland - not agitator in chief for a separatist state."

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