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Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Chris McCall

Rishi Sunak rules out more powers for Scottish Parliament amid chaotic press conference

Rishi Sunak ruled out devolving more powers to the Scottish Parliament in a speech to Tory members in Glasgow today.

The Prime Minister claimed the Scottish Government "doesn't use all the powers they already have - they can stop talking about any more".

But the first day of the Scottish Conservatives conference was nearly overshadowed by a row over media access to the Prime Minister.

The Tory leader's media team had initially tried to shut out several newspapers, including the Record, from a press conference following his speech at the SEC.

All reporters were eventually allowed in after a row between reporters and Downing Street aides.

Sunak had earlier told Tory members his government was helping Scots despite the cost of living spiralling under his watch.

And he again ruled out allowing a second referendum on Scottish independence.

"Under my leadership we will never, ever forget we are the Conservative and Unionist Party, and working together, all of us proudly as Conservatives, we will deliver for each and every part of our precious union," he said.D

During a short Q&A session with Douglas Ross, Sunak defended his government awarding funding directly to local councils and not Holyrood.

Asked about the future of devolution, he said: "We can't devolve and forget. Scotland already has the most powerful devolved assembly anywhere in the world.

"All this talk of needing any more powers... the SNP and the Scottish Government doesn't use all the powers they already have - they can stop talking about any more.

"We believe devolution should be as close to people as possible."

The Tory leader continued: "In the same way that Westminster doesn't always know best, it's not the case in Scotland that the SNP and Holyrood always knows best.

"What we believe is we can devolve power to local communities, and that's what we've done.

"The UK Government is being more engaged in levelling up and investing directly in local communities across Scotland.

"Local councils are really keen to engage directly with the UK Government, they know what their priorities are, more so than Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP do.

"That's real devolution in action."

He contrasted the actions of his party with the Scottish Government and its “record of failure”.

Sunak said: “If the SNP can’t sort out the mess Nicola Sturgeon left their party, how on earth can they sort out the mess Nicola Sturgeon has left Scotland’s public services in?

“What we need is a government in Holyrood that is focused on Scottish people’s real priorities, not constitutional abstractions.

“The SNP may not be able to find some auditors for their party, but we can certainly audit their record in government."

Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour deputy leader, said: "Rishi Sunak's speech was a speech without vision and without energy – obsessing over the Tories' partners in division, the SNP.

"The people of Scotland know what this Tory government means – sleaze at the highest level while people go hungry and face soaring bills.

"It’ll take more than a ‘super computer’ to figure out how the Scottish Tories get out of the electoral morass into which they have plunged head-first.

"The attempt to bar the press from asking questions was a desperate and cowardly act that has back-fired spectacularly.

"Time is up for the Scottish Tories – people know that it is their dangerous and out of touch politics that are the biggest threat to the union."

Stephen Flynn, the SNP leader at Westminster, said: "The Tories have no mandate in Scotland. Rishi Sunak should be apologising for the disastrous mess the Tory government has made of the economy - and for the damage he's caused to families, who are paying through the nose for Brexit and the Tory cost of living crisis.

"The SNP is the only party offering a real alternative to the Tories. Voting SNP is the best way to beat the Tories in Scotland at the next election - and the only way to get rid of Westminster Tory governments for good with independence."

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