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| Sturgeon accused of divisive rhetoric for saying 'I detest the Tories' | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Watch: I detest the Tories and everything they stand for - Nicola Sturgeon | Watch: I detest the Tories and everything they stand for - Nicola Sturgeon |
| Watch: I detest the Tories and everything they stand for - Nicola Sturgeon | Watch: I detest the Tories and everything they stand for - Nicola Sturgeon |
| Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been accused of using divisive rhetoric after she said "I detest the Tories" in a BBC interview. | Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been accused of using divisive rhetoric after she said "I detest the Tories" in a BBC interview. |
| She made the comments to Laura Kuenssberg when asked if she would prefer a Labour or a Tory PM. | She made the comments to Laura Kuenssberg when asked if she would prefer a Labour or a Tory PM. |
| Cabinet minister Nadhim Zahawi said her language was "dangerous". | Cabinet minister Nadhim Zahawi said her language was "dangerous". |
| But Ms Sturgeon later told the BBC she did not regret her choice of words, which were not about individuals or Tory voters. | But Ms Sturgeon later told the BBC she did not regret her choice of words, which were not about individuals or Tory voters. |
| The Scottish first minister clarified that when she had said she "detests" the Tories, she was "referring to Tory policies and values that do a lot of damage". | The Scottish first minister clarified that when she had said she "detests" the Tories, she was "referring to Tory policies and values that do a lot of damage". |
| Earlier in her interview on the programme Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Ms Sturgeon hit out at the UK government's continuing opposition to granting Scotland another vote on independence. | Earlier in her interview on the programme Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Ms Sturgeon hit out at the UK government's continuing opposition to granting Scotland another vote on independence. |
| Ms Sturgeon said she would "never, ever give up" on her push for a second referendum on independence, something Tory Prime Minister Liz Truss has ruled out. | Ms Sturgeon said she would "never, ever give up" on her push for a second referendum on independence, something Tory Prime Minister Liz Truss has ruled out. |
| Asked if Ms Truss was a friend or foe, Ms Sturgeon said that they were "political opponents" but she "would like to be a friend on the basis of the areas we can work together constructively". | Asked if Ms Truss was a friend or foe, Ms Sturgeon said that they were "political opponents" but she "would like to be a friend on the basis of the areas we can work together constructively". |
| However, when then asked if she would prefer a Labour or Tory government, Ms Sturgeon said: "I detest the Tories and everything they stand for so it's not difficult to answer that question." | However, when then asked if she would prefer a Labour or Tory government, Ms Sturgeon said: "I detest the Tories and everything they stand for so it's not difficult to answer that question." |
| Mr Zahawi - the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster - told the same programme: "I think that language is really dangerous." | Mr Zahawi - the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster - told the same programme: "I think that language is really dangerous." |
| He said he preferred to work with his colleagues in Scotland on delivering projects. | He said he preferred to work with his colleagues in Scotland on delivering projects. |
| Sturgeon says she won't give up on independence | Sturgeon says she won't give up on independence |
| 'Fairytale economics' now a nightmare - Blackford | 'Fairytale economics' now a nightmare - Blackford |
| SNP seek to exploit Truss's faltering start as PM | SNP seek to exploit Truss's faltering start as PM |
| At the SNP's annual conference in Aberdeen, BBC political correspondent David Wallace Lockhart asked the first minister if Mr Zahawi's criticism of her language was fair. | At the SNP's annual conference in Aberdeen, BBC political correspondent David Wallace Lockhart asked the first minister if Mr Zahawi's criticism of her language was fair. |
| "No it's not," Ms Sturgeon said. "I was referring to Tory party values and policies, policies that throughout much of my lifetime have devastated communities and plunged people into poverty." | "No it's not," Ms Sturgeon said. "I was referring to Tory party values and policies, policies that throughout much of my lifetime have devastated communities and plunged people into poverty." |
| During the conference, senior SNP politicians have attacked the Conservative government and its policies. | During the conference, senior SNP politicians have attacked the Conservative government and its policies. |
| On Sunday some Tory politicians criticised Ms Sturgeon, accusing her of stoking divisions for political ends in Scotland. | On Sunday some Tory politicians criticised Ms Sturgeon, accusing her of stoking divisions for political ends in Scotland. |
| In a tweet, former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson, said the comment about detesting the Tories was "clearly a rhetoric-raising strategy" ahead of Ms Sturgeon's speech to the SNP conference on Monday. | In a tweet, former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson, said the comment about detesting the Tories was "clearly a rhetoric-raising strategy" ahead of Ms Sturgeon's speech to the SNP conference on Monday. |
| Conservative MP Andrew Bowie also tweeted to suggest the language was no way to win over voters who voted against Scottish independence in the 2014 referendum. | Conservative MP Andrew Bowie also tweeted to suggest the language was no way to win over voters who voted against Scottish independence in the 2014 referendum. |
| And Conservative MSP Annie Wells wrote in a tweet that the use of "detest" was "irresponsible language" from someone in Ms Sturgeon's position. | And Conservative MSP Annie Wells wrote in a tweet that the use of "detest" was "irresponsible language" from someone in Ms Sturgeon's position. |
| But some SNP politicians have defended Ms Sturgeon's remarks as they gathered for their party conference. | But some SNP politicians have defended Ms Sturgeon's remarks as they gathered for their party conference. |
| When asked if he detested the Tories, Deputy First Minister John Swinney told Channel 4 News he "had no stomach for the Tories whatsoever". | When asked if he detested the Tories, Deputy First Minister John Swinney told Channel 4 News he "had no stomach for the Tories whatsoever". |
| Pressed on whether "detest" was the right word to use, Ms Swinney repeated his earlier comment. | Pressed on whether "detest" was the right word to use, Ms Swinney repeated his earlier comment. |
| Watch: No regret for saying 'I detest the Tories' - Sturgeon | Watch: No regret for saying 'I detest the Tories' - Sturgeon |
| Watch: No regret for saying 'I detest the Tories' - Sturgeon | Watch: No regret for saying 'I detest the Tories' - Sturgeon |
| Earlier this week, Ms Sturgeon told the BBC she still had not had a phone call with Ms Truss, more than a month after she had become prime minister. | Earlier this week, Ms Sturgeon told the BBC she still had not had a phone call with Ms Truss, more than a month after she had become prime minister. |
| When Ms Truss was campaigning to be Tory leader, the prime minister branded Ms Sturgeon as an "attention seeker" who was best ignored. | When Ms Truss was campaigning to be Tory leader, the prime minister branded Ms Sturgeon as an "attention seeker" who was best ignored. |
| In Sunday's interview with Laura Kuenssberg, Ms Sturgeon said she had "always tried to work with her predecessors and I will try to work with her [Liz Truss]". | In Sunday's interview with Laura Kuenssberg, Ms Sturgeon said she had "always tried to work with her predecessors and I will try to work with her [Liz Truss]". |
| Ms Sturgeon took at swipe at Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who she said "no longer wants to take the UK or Scotland back into the European Union". | Ms Sturgeon took at swipe at Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who she said "no longer wants to take the UK or Scotland back into the European Union". |
| But when asked if she wanted to see Sir Keir in Downing Street, she told Laura Kuenssberg that "being better than the Tories is not a high bar to cross right now". | But when asked if she wanted to see Sir Keir in Downing Street, she told Laura Kuenssberg that "being better than the Tories is not a high bar to cross right now". |
| She said: "I think we need to see more of a radical alternative from Labour rather than just a pale imitation. | She said: "I think we need to see more of a radical alternative from Labour rather than just a pale imitation. |
| "If you're asking me do I think either a Westminster Tory government or a Westminster Labour government are good enough for Scotland, then my answer to that is no." | "If you're asking me do I think either a Westminster Tory government or a Westminster Labour government are good enough for Scotland, then my answer to that is no." |