The audience on BBC’s Question Time was heard reacting with sarcastic laughter to a claim that Boris Johnson “cares about Scotland”.
On the same day that the Prime Minister campaigned in Scotland ahead of the December 12 general election, the weekly debate show came to Glasgow.
Among Thursday’s panellists was Kirstene Hair, Conservative candidate for Angus, who spoke about Mr Johnson’s commitment to Scotland in a clip that has gone viral on Twitter.
Referring to the PM’s tour of a Diageo whisky production facility near Elgin, Ms Hair said: “I believe Boris Johnson absolutely cares about Scotland. He was up in Moray today.”
As she spoke, sarcastic laughter can be clearly heard in the studio.
The laughter as she tries to convince Scotland that Boris cares pic.twitter.com/g38hM8MFMa
— Janey Godley (@JaneyGodley) November 7, 2019
The footage, seen more than 236,000 times, sparked criticism on the social media platform.
Michael Russell, Scotland’s cabinet secretary for government business and constitutional relations in the Scottish Government, tweeted: “This should worry the Tories – an MP seeking re-election promoting her party leader, who is Prime Minister, and being met with derisive laughter. No wonder he doesn’t meet voters in Scotland face to face.”
Amid a sea of condemnation on Twitter, HighlandTory came to the defence of his party. He tweeted: “Oh yes, I’m sure this is going to send shockwaves through the Tory ranks, a few nationalists in a crowd in a yes city making their voices heard, truly unprecedented.”
Ms Hair was joined on the panel by shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner, Scottish Government justice secretary Humza Yousaf, journalist and broadcaster Angela Haggerty, and businessman Iain Anderson.
“Boris Johnson as Prime Minister, getting a Brexit deal, focussing on public services and saying no to Nicola Sturgeon’s second independence referendum”@Kirstene4Angus says voting Conservative in the general election will ‘move the country forward’. #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/P5aJxlDE59
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) November 7, 2019
“If he’s re-elected as Prime Minister, we’re never going to get independence because he treats Scotland with contempt”
This #bbcqt audience member criticises Boris Johnson. pic.twitter.com/CusDuvP1Lk
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) November 7, 2019
