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| Tory leadership candidates face Scottish members | Tory leadership candidates face Scottish members |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Conservative leadership contenders Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt are facing Scottish party members at a hustings event in Perth. | Conservative leadership contenders Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt are facing Scottish party members at a hustings event in Perth. |
| Both men have pledged to protect the UK union amid warnings from senior Tory politicians that it could be at risk. | Both men have pledged to protect the UK union amid warnings from senior Tory politicians that it could be at risk. |
| Prime Minister Theresa May made a speech in Stirling on Thursday urging her successor to prioritise the union. | Prime Minister Theresa May made a speech in Stirling on Thursday urging her successor to prioritise the union. |
| First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wants to hold a fresh Scottish independence referendum in the second half of 2020. | First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wants to hold a fresh Scottish independence referendum in the second half of 2020. |
| She said Mrs May's speech - which urged Mr Johnson and Mr Hunt to "think creatively" about how to keep the UK together - was "too little, too late". | She said Mrs May's speech - which urged Mr Johnson and Mr Hunt to "think creatively" about how to keep the UK together - was "too little, too late". |
| The hustings in Perth is the latest in a series of events around the UK which see the two candidates make a speech to local members before taking questions from a host and the audience. | The hustings in Perth is the latest in a series of events around the UK which see the two candidates make a speech to local members before taking questions from a host and the audience. |
| Party members should receive their ballots in the coming days, with the winner to be announced on 23 July. | Party members should receive their ballots in the coming days, with the winner to be announced on 23 July. |
| A YouGov survey of Conservative members in June suggested that a majority would prefer Brexit to go ahead even if it caused Scottish independence, while another opinion poll suggested that a majority of Scots could back independence if Mr Johnson became prime minister. | A YouGov survey of Conservative members in June suggested that a majority would prefer Brexit to go ahead even if it caused Scottish independence, while another opinion poll suggested that a majority of Scots could back independence if Mr Johnson became prime minister. |
| A series of senior politicians have come forward to voice concerns about the union, with Mrs May's speech in Stirling echoing the words of her de-facto deputy, David Lidington - and those of former prime minister Gordon Brown, who said the UK was "more at risk" than it had ever been. | A series of senior politicians have come forward to voice concerns about the union, with Mrs May's speech in Stirling echoing the words of her de-facto deputy, David Lidington - and those of former prime minister Gordon Brown, who said the UK was "more at risk" than it had ever been. |
| Speaking in Perth, Mr Hunt insisted he would "not engage" with the Scottish First Minister on the possibility of another ballot. | |
| He said: "I will engage fully, responsibly and generously on everything that helps Scotland move forward but I will not engage with (Nicola Sturgeon) on the issue of independence, which will take Scotland backwards. | He said: "I will engage fully, responsibly and generously on everything that helps Scotland move forward but I will not engage with (Nicola Sturgeon) on the issue of independence, which will take Scotland backwards. |
| "If she asks for a second independence referendum, I will decline in the most British and polite way, but it will be a no." | "If she asks for a second independence referendum, I will decline in the most British and polite way, but it will be a no." |
| The Foreign Secretary also hit out at the Scottish Government, saying ministers in Edinburgh must do more to prepare for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit. | The Foreign Secretary also hit out at the Scottish Government, saying ministers in Edinburgh must do more to prepare for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit. |
| He claimed the current arrangements were "very disappointing", saying: "All of us have to do more but to date as I've been watching the no-deal preparations I would like to see more focus on that from Nicola Sturgeon. | He claimed the current arrangements were "very disappointing", saying: "All of us have to do more but to date as I've been watching the no-deal preparations I would like to see more focus on that from Nicola Sturgeon. |
| "(The Scottish Government) have been very disappointing in their preparations of a no-deal Brexit, which none of us want, but any responsible Government or authority in the United Kingdom should be taking seriously because there is that risk." | "(The Scottish Government) have been very disappointing in their preparations of a no-deal Brexit, which none of us want, but any responsible Government or authority in the United Kingdom should be taking seriously because there is that risk." |
| He insisted it was "not the time" to detail what steps the Scottish Government should be taking but added: "I think they know, and we know, the areas where more can be done." | He insisted it was "not the time" to detail what steps the Scottish Government should be taking but added: "I think they know, and we know, the areas where more can be done." |
| The foreign secretary has won the backing of Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, and the bulk of the party's MSP group at Holyrood also signed a letter supporting him. | The foreign secretary has won the backing of Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, and the bulk of the party's MSP group at Holyrood also signed a letter supporting him. |
| However, Mr Johnson won more backing among Scottish Conservatives during the ballots of of MPs at Westminster. | However, Mr Johnson won more backing among Scottish Conservatives during the ballots of of MPs at Westminster. |
| Mr Johnson has insisted that he is a "passionate believer" in the union, and has claimed that Brexit "done right" could "cement and intensify" the bonds between England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. | Mr Johnson has insisted that he is a "passionate believer" in the union, and has claimed that Brexit "done right" could "cement and intensify" the bonds between England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. |
| Ms Sturgeon predicted that Scotland was "heading inexorably towards independence" regardless of who wins the contest. | Ms Sturgeon predicted that Scotland was "heading inexorably towards independence" regardless of who wins the contest. |
| She said: "There is nothing that Theresa May's successor, whoever that is, can do to undo the damage to the unionist cause which has been inflicted during her premiership." | She said: "There is nothing that Theresa May's successor, whoever that is, can do to undo the damage to the unionist cause which has been inflicted during her premiership." |