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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Tories 'don't suck up' to the SNP | Tories 'don't suck up' to the SNP |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie has denied "sucking up" to the SNP since it took power at Holyrood in May. | Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie has denied "sucking up" to the SNP since it took power at Holyrood in May. |
| However, in a BBC Scotland webchat, she said it was right that her party had worked with the Scottish Government to deliver Conservative policies. | However, in a BBC Scotland webchat, she said it was right that her party had worked with the Scottish Government to deliver Conservative policies. |
| She also firmly denied leaving the door open to backing an independence referendum, saying it did not serve people's interests "at the moment". | She also firmly denied leaving the door open to backing an independence referendum, saying it did not serve people's interests "at the moment". |
| Miss Goldie was speaking as her party's annual conference got under way in Ayr. | Miss Goldie was speaking as her party's annual conference got under way in Ayr. |
| The MSP was asked a selection of questions from the hundreds which had been submitted by members of the public. | The MSP was asked a selection of questions from the hundreds which had been submitted by members of the public. |
| What the Tories refused to do, quite rightly, was go into coalition with Alex Salmond Annabel Goldie Scottish Conservative Party leader | What the Tories refused to do, quite rightly, was go into coalition with Alex Salmond Annabel Goldie Scottish Conservative Party leader |
| She strongly defended the Scottish Conservatives' decision to work with the SNP on its policies, which also included speedier cuts to business rates and a national drug strategy. | She strongly defended the Scottish Conservatives' decision to work with the SNP on its policies, which also included speedier cuts to business rates and a national drug strategy. |
| "The Conservatives are not sucking up to the Nationalist government," she said. | "The Conservatives are not sucking up to the Nationalist government," she said. |
| "What the Tories refused to do, quite rightly, was go into coalition with Alex Salmond. But if voters in Scotland think it's serious political activity to stand in the way of getting Conservative policies delivered in Scotland, I do not agree with that. | "What the Tories refused to do, quite rightly, was go into coalition with Alex Salmond. But if voters in Scotland think it's serious political activity to stand in the way of getting Conservative policies delivered in Scotland, I do not agree with that. |
| "It would be utterly irresponsible of the Conservatives to stand back and say to the people of Scotland 'you are all yelling out for more police officers, you are feeling insecure in your communities, but we are not going to do anything, we are just going to stand in a corner and do nothing'. | "It would be utterly irresponsible of the Conservatives to stand back and say to the people of Scotland 'you are all yelling out for more police officers, you are feeling insecure in your communities, but we are not going to do anything, we are just going to stand in a corner and do nothing'. |
| "That is unthinkable and people would find that incredible." | "That is unthinkable and people would find that incredible." |
| Amended comments | Amended comments |
| During the half-hour live webcast hosted by BBC political editor Brian Taylor, Miss Goldie answered questions on an independence referendum, taxation, Scottish broadcasting and the constitutional future of the country | During the half-hour live webcast hosted by BBC political editor Brian Taylor, Miss Goldie answered questions on an independence referendum, taxation, Scottish broadcasting and the constitutional future of the country |
| A number of people wanted to know what Miss Goldie's response was to deputy leader Murdo Fraser's initial criticisms of the Greater Manchester Police's handling of the Rangers vs Zenit St Petersburg Uefa Cup final in Manchester. | A number of people wanted to know what Miss Goldie's response was to deputy leader Murdo Fraser's initial criticisms of the Greater Manchester Police's handling of the Rangers vs Zenit St Petersburg Uefa Cup final in Manchester. |
| The day after the trouble, he said the decision to deploy riot police was an "over-reaction" which may have inflamed the situation. | The day after the trouble, he said the decision to deploy riot police was an "over-reaction" which may have inflamed the situation. |
| But Mr Fraser was later forced to temper his comments after viewing the CCTV footage. | But Mr Fraser was later forced to temper his comments after viewing the CCTV footage. |
| David Cameron is addressing the party faithful gathering in Ayr | |
| Miss Goldie said Mr Fraser's decision to amend his views was "entirely appropriate". | Miss Goldie said Mr Fraser's decision to amend his views was "entirely appropriate". |
| She added: "I think he voiced an opinion which he was brave enough and indeed absolutely correct to amend once he had seen first-hand evidence of what had been going on. | She added: "I think he voiced an opinion which he was brave enough and indeed absolutely correct to amend once he had seen first-hand evidence of what had been going on. |
| "When we all saw that footage we were all universally appalled. It was horrific and it was completely inexcusable and Murdo was uncompromising in his condemnation of that." | "When we all saw that footage we were all universally appalled. It was horrific and it was completely inexcusable and Murdo was uncompromising in his condemnation of that." |
| On the issue of an independence referendum, Miss Goldie said her party would continue to oppose the Scottish Government's 2010 referendum plans saying it would not settle the issue. | On the issue of an independence referendum, Miss Goldie said her party would continue to oppose the Scottish Government's 2010 referendum plans saying it would not settle the issue. |
| When asked if she would vote down the referendum bill in parliament, Miss Goldie responded: "My belief at the moment is that it does not serve the best interests of Scotland." | When asked if she would vote down the referendum bill in parliament, Miss Goldie responded: "My belief at the moment is that it does not serve the best interests of Scotland." |
| She said: "I have made clear that, in principle, I and my party will oppose a referendum on independence." | She said: "I have made clear that, in principle, I and my party will oppose a referendum on independence." |
| But when pressed on whether she would vote against the bill in 2010, the Scots Tory leader replied: "Yes". | |
| "I do not support a referendum," she said. | "I do not support a referendum," she said. |
| Miss Goldie will address her party's two-day conference on Saturday afternoon. | Miss Goldie will address her party's two-day conference on Saturday afternoon. |
| The gathering is now hearing from UK Tory leader David Cameron. |