HAVE you heard the news? The Scottish Conservatives aren’t fond of independence.
This week it was the turn of MP Kirstene Hair to act as chief protector of the Union.
She posted a video of her Commons speech attacking Nicola Sturgeon following the publication of the Referendums (Scotland) Bill at Holyrood, which is designed to give people the "opportunity to choose a better future".
READ MORE: Scottish Independence referendum bill published at Holyrood
In a question to Theresa May’s de facto deputy, David Lidington, the Scots Tory MP said: “Nicola Sturgeon laid the draft legislation for a second independence referendum last week, but with only one in five Scots supporting what she is doing.
“Can the minister assure me that his department are doing all that they can to protect and preserve our United Kingdom that we are so proud to be part of?”
The video was accompanied by the subheading “WE ARE STRONGER UNITED” – just in case anyone had forgotten where Hair’s allegiance lies in the independence debate.
She posted the video on Friday with the caption: “The SNP are at it again – threatening to put Scotland through another divisive referendum. The vast majority of Scots don’t want it, and they can count on the @ScotTories to stand up for our Union.”
The SNP are at it again - threatening to put Scotland through another divisive referendum. The vast majority of Scots don’t want it, and they can count on the @ScotTories to stand up for our Union. 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/0DG8pDTbsb
— Kirstene Hair MP (@Kirstene4Angus) June 7, 2019
But it seems despite Scottish Tories devoting approximately 100% of their public speaking opportunities to attacking independence, not everyone is convinced.
The SNP’s Brexit Secretary Michael Russell certainly had a bone to pick.
He suggested Hair’s assertion that Scots are overwhelmingly opposed to indyref2 was not exactly borne out in the European Parliament election results.
The Tories secured less than 12% of the vote, while the SNP, running on an anti-Brexit and pro-independence ticket, won almost 38%. A recent YouGov poll also put Yes support at 49%.
READ MORE: Incredible YouGov poll shows huge shift in favour in Scottish independence
Making his case to Hair, Russell tweeted: “Kirstene the actual result of the #EUelection (the most recent country wide electoral test) had the @ScotTories (who oppose an #indyref ) 26.2 percentage points and over 412,000 votes behind @theSNP (which supports an #indyref). And in fourth place …”
Kirstene the actual result of the #EUelection (the most recent country wide electoral test ) had the @ScotTories (who oppose an #indyref ) 26.2 percentage points and over 412,000 votes behind @theSNP (which supports an #indyref) . And in fourth place..... https://t.co/AR6Si1WC4e
— Michael Russell (@Feorlean) June 8, 2019
That’s right, the anti-indyref2 Tories finished in fourth place overall.
But expecting Hair to have noticed was perhaps asking too much. Afterall, the Tory MP is probably still concentrating on making her mind up on Brexit – she said she didn’t vote in the EU referendum because it was too “difficult”.
READ MORE: Theresa May brushes off Brexit fears of Scottish Tory MP who didn't vote in referendum
It seems being meticulous isn’t exactly here forte.
Hair also made waves in February after accusing the First Minister of failing to mention Scotch whisky during a trip to Canada to promote Scottish exports – or “prancing around the world flogging independence” in the words of the Tory MP.
The accusation didn’t quite stand up to scrutiny when it was pointed out that Sturgeon spent her fourth day in North America opening a Scottish Government office in Ottawa with a showcase of Scottish food and drink.
Despite her most recent misfire, Hair should take inspiration from the time-honoured phrase: "If at first you don't succeed try, try and try again."
It has slipped the Jouker’s mind from whom that phrase is said to have originated, but with her now renowned eye for detail, we’re sure Hair will get to the bottom of it.
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