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A Tory MSP has been slammed for supporting the launch of a libertarian wing of the party that wants to “kill” the welfare state and break up the NHS.

Graham Simpson, elected to Holyrood in May, was the guest speaker at Conservatives for Liberty Scotland last month.

A series of postings on their sister UK site includes a spending cuts “wish list” which calls for drastic action.

Cuts would see an end to child benefit, means testing for bus passes and long-term privatisation of pensions.

Suggestions for healthcare include £10 charges for GPs, except for the young, elderly and long-term sick.

International aid targets would be scrapped. Public bodies in line for the axe include the arts council, committee on climate change, human rights commission and equalities office.

A posting from last year criticises SNP MP Mhairi Black’s focus on welfare.

It uses the headline: “With apologies to Mhairi Black and Labour: The welfare state is neither compassionate nor fair. Kill it with fire.”

The posting adds: “Generous benefits for single parents discourage marriage and encourage illegitimacy.”

An article published in May adds: “The NHS cannot be made better without reform that would make it less socialist, and that would be a good thing.”

The Scottish Conservatives insisted Simpson disagreed with many Liberty politicies.

But a copy of his abridged speech online states: “I’m not a member of any groups within the party but I do welcome the debate that they can foster.

“So I congratulate you on being here.

“We need some ideological diversity and debate outside of parliament.”

Simpson, who voted to Leave the EU, made his welcome speech at the private Trout Anglers’ Club in Edinburgh’s New Town.

He told guests his Tory party colleagues are “sound” even though many voted Remain.

SNP MSP Christina McKelvie said Tory leader Ruth Davidson should distance herself from the “hard right”.

(Image: CfL)

She said: “Even by Tory standards these are extraordinary views and it’s disturbing to see an MSP openly associate himself with a group who want to ‘kill’ the welfare state and dismantle the NHS.

“This is shocking but it’s hardly the first time that the new Tory intake has been associated with hard-right views. Ruth Davidson’s party like to play-up their blue-collar credentials but scratch the surface and these are the same-old, out-of-touch right-wing Tories.

“Unless Graham Simpson completely distances himself from these views then the public will draw their own conclusions.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: “Graham was asked to speak at the event, an invitation he accepted. He made it abundantly clear in his speech that he disagreed with Liberty on a range of matters, that he wasn’t a member and nor would he ever be.”

Conservatives for Liberty outline their mission on their website.

They state: “We believe capitalism, individualism, low taxation and minimal state interference are conducive to the greatest freedom, happiness and prosperity of mankind, and that these values are best pursued within the Conservative Party.”