DOUGLAS Ross welcomed the appointment of Rishi Sunak as the new Prime Minister.
The Scottish Conservative leader said he looked forward to ‘working with him for the good of Scotland and all of the UK.
However, news that the former chancellor was to replace Liz Truss and become the UK’s third prime minister in three months has intensified calls from opposition parties for a general election.
The SNP said the Conservative Party could not be allowed to impose a new leader on the country without a vote.
While Labor said Mr Sunak was appointed without saying a word ‘about how he would run the country’.
In his statement, Mr Ross said Mr Sunak had “a proven track record in managing the nation’s finances” and could “provide economic stability and reassure the markets.”
“The past few weeks have been difficult and troubling for the Conservative Party and, more importantly, for the country,” he added. “Now our whole focus must be on bringing the nation together and navigating the difficult economic conditions we face.
“As he has shown during his time as Chancellor, including safeguarding one in three Scottish jobs during the pandemic through the furlough scheme, Rishi Sunak is uniquely equipped for the task.”
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford disagreed: ‘The Conservatives cannot be allowed to impose a third Prime Minister without a general election – voters must have a say and the SNP is determined to s make sure they do.
“The Conservative government had no mandate to wreck the UK economy with its dire budget. And it has no mandate to install another leader who will impose devastating austerity cuts – making households pay through the teeth for the conservative mistakes.
“No one voted for this. The only reason the Tories fear democracy is because they fear the verdict of the people. There is no better indication than the poll in Scotland, which shows that voting for the SNP could completely wipe out the Tories.”
Mr Blackford said his party would “continue to exert maximum pressure on Tory MPs to hold an election. And I have written to Keir Starmer making it clear to him that SNP MPs will support a vote of no confidence in the Conservative government if he delivers one this week.
Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, said Mr Sunak had been crowned ‘without him saying a single word about how he would run the country and without anyone having a chance to vote’.
She added: ‘This is the same Rishi Sunak who as Chancellor failed to grow the economy, failed to control inflation and failed to help families deal with the Conservatives’ cost of living crisis.
“And this is the same Rishi Sunak whose family avoided paying taxes in this country before he imposed taxes on everyone else.
“With his record – and after Liz Truss handily beat him this summer – it’s no wonder he’s ducking scrutiny.
“Rishi Sunak has no mandate and no idea what workers need. We need a general election to give the public a say in Britain’s future.
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie Mr Sunak’s nomination will be “music to the ears of his super-rich friends, but, for millions of people in Scotland and beyond, it will be devastating”.
“The Tories entered a time machine and exited in 2010. The last thing we need is another multi-millionaire Tory Prime Minister looking the other way while millions suffer and attack the services we all rely on.
“In 2014, we were told that a no vote was the only way to ensure our economic stability. Since then we have had four prime ministers, each one even worse than the last. Rishi Sunak will be the fifth,” he added.
