Independence, not Brexit, is the biggest threat to Scotland’s economy, the country’s sole Conservative MP has claimed.
David Mundell, the Scottish Secretary, told Tory members that the SNP has “abandoned the day job” of running the government in favour of rerunning constitutional battles.
He was speaking at a 45-minute fringe event on devolution at the his party’s annual Conference in Birmingham.
The Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale MP said: “So far the SNP have put their obsession with independence above all else.
“They’ve abandoned the day job – and Scotland is paying the price.
“They spend their time doom-mongering about Brexit and using it as an excuse to threaten a second independence referendum.
“That is not what the people of Scotland want. It is a Sword of Damocles – the single biggest threat to Scotland’s economy.”
Ian Murray, Scottish Labour’s Westminster spokesman, accused Mr Mundell of having “extraordinary cheek” and claiming and the Conservatives have put the Union at risk.
He added: “The Tories then ran a General Election campaign that sought to divide the Scots and the English, and have now caused constitutional chaos by completely failing to plan for Brexit.
“Ruth Davidson and David Mundell backed a Tory manifesto in 2015 that had both EVEL and an EU referendum in it. They should apologise for threatening the Union by trying to fix their party.”
