Stuart Rodger

Leaders of Scotland’s two second largest parties clash over comments made by shadow secretary of state for Scotland

SCOTTISH Tory leader Ruth Davidson and Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale have clashed on Twitter following reports that the shadow secretary of state for Scotland said Labour “may well” have to consider a deal with the SNP.

The clash concerns comments from Dave Anderson MP, who said in an interview: “It is far too early to even contemplate that but what I am not prepared to do on behalf of the Labour party nationally is to rule that out completely. If that is the price that we have to pay to prevent another rabid right-wing Tory government then, I tell you what it is, we have got to at least think about it and discuss it.”

Anderson, a former care worker and miner and MP for Blaydon in the Tyne and Wear, was recently appointed to the shadow secretary post following Ian Murray’s resignation from the shadow cabinet, which left Labour without any MPs north of the border willing to serve on the party’s front bench.

The move was rounded on by the Scottish Tories, who said it demonstrated Labour cannot be trusted to preserve the union and hold the SNP to account. Tory MSP Murdo Fraser said: "This is the latest proof that Jeremy Corbyn and Kezia Dugdale simply can' t be trusted to defend the United Kingdom against the threat from the SNP separatists.”

Here you have it – Labour's shad Scottish Secretary wants pact with the SNP. Only @ScotTories will stand up to them. https://t.co/A7FagN4OUw — Ruth Davidson (@RuthDavidsonMSP) August 11, 2016

Labour's official policy – let's pal up with the SNP. Not oppose them, not challenge them, but do a deal with them. https://t.co/A7FagN4OUw — Ruth Davidson (@RuthDavidsonMSP) August 11, 2016

Funny. I would have expected a deluge of senior Labour MSPs to put Dave back in his box for this. But… *silence* https://t.co/A7FagN4OUw — Ruth Davidson (@RuthDavidsonMSP) August 11, 2016

Funny. Unlike the Tories in 07-11, Scottish Labour doesn't support any deal with the SNP. https://t.co/TirNwW38iR https://t.co/TirNwW38iR — Kezia Dugdale (@kezdugdale) August 11, 2016

Yet not actually disavowing what shad Sec of State is espousing. Will you slap him down? Or do you want SNP deal? https://t.co/Hxf3GxRw16 — Ruth Davidson (@RuthDavidsonMSP) August 11, 2016

Quit the hyberbole, innuendo, poor gags, cheap shots and focus on dealing with the Brexit mess your party invited. https://t.co/K09pIiHSJ3 — Kezia Dugdale (@kezdugdale) August 11, 2016

So far several senior Labour peeps have had a go at me for pointing out shad SoS advocating SNP deal. Can't see *ANYONE* slapping him down. — Ruth Davidson (@RuthDavidsonMSP) August 11, 2016

.@kezdugdale do you agree with what he's advocating or do you think it's wrong? It's a really simple Q. Why the silence? — Ruth Davidson (@RuthDavidsonMSP) August 11, 2016

@RuthDavidsonMSP I quite clearly disagree. No "silence" – Twitter isn't everything… Have a good night. — Kezia Dugdale (@kezdugdale) August 11, 2016

Picture courtesy of Flickr / mrgarethm