Stirling MP Stephen Kerr has finally revealed who he voted for in the Tory leadership contest, following Boris Johnson’s election as party leader.
Mr Kerr told BBC Radio Scotland on Wednesday that he had voted for former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt to be the next Tory leader.
He had previously declined to tell the Observer who he was backing before the polls closed.
The MP for Stirling had previously supported former Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Michael Gove, who was eliminated during the early voting.
On Sky News on Wednesday, Mr Kerr said that he had not revealed which of the two candidates he was backing out of “integrity”.
Speaking to the Observer on Thursday, he said: “I originally supported Michael Gove and I am delighted that he now has a vital role to play in the new cabinet.
“It is extremely important that the new Prime Minister receives full backing to deliver on the result of the 2016 referendum, respecting that vote and respecting our democratic processes is the number one priority.
“I want to see that done with a deal, I voted three time for a deal and I bet many that didn’t now wish they had. There are two sides to this and it is now incumbent on the EU to show respect for the decisions made in the UK and make sure that is what is delivered.
“I advised who I had voted for only after the ballot had closed. It was important that every party member made up their own minds.”
Meanwhile, Mr Kerr has come under criticism from SNP MEP Alyn Smith for remarks he made on STV’s ‘Scotland Tonight’ later that night regarding a ‘No-deal Brexit’.
Despite representing a constituency which voted 67 per cent for Remain in the 2016 EU referendum, Mr Kerr said that he would choose to leave the European Union without a deal rather than not leave at all.
Mr Smyth, who is currently president of the European Free Alliance group in the European Parliament, blasted Mr Kerr for his “disregard for the people who elected him”.
He commented: “Stephen Kerr would rather subject his constituents to a catastrophic no deal exit from the European Union, rather than support what more than two thirds of them actually voted for in 2016 which is to remain in the EU.
“This is unfortunately what constituents of MPs like Mr Kerr have come to expect. At no turn does this position seek to represent the expressed interests of the majority of people in Stirling, or across Scotland.
“Leaving the EU with no deal would immediately leave the UK being one of the only countries in the world to have no trade deal whatsoever with another state. There would be no continued free trade with our closest neighbours in Europe, as this would have to be conducted under World Trade Organisation rules.
“The politically independent Fraser of Allander Institute has forecast that this would cost 100,000 Scottish jobs - more than doubling the unemployment rate in this country.”
A spokesperson for Mr Kerr responded: “Stephen Kerr voted three times for a deal. If Mr Smith is so concerned about the prospect of a no deal, then why is he not taking to task his own MPs who did not vote for a deal?
“More nonsense from Mr Smith who clearly could not negotiate his way out of a paper bag.”
