Liz Truss says "best to ignore" attention-seeking Nicola Sturgeon

[BerylBird]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-62385757

I'm not Scottish and I don't live in Scotland, but this statement by Liz Truss has made me seethe with rage. AIBU?

I know Nicola Sturgeon is not universally popular in Scotland but, by all measures, the SNP have a sizeable majority in Scotland and like it or not, she is the elected leader of the country, chosen by its population.

How can someone who is vying to be PM of the UK make such a comment as this without alienating, by definition, a majority of Scots? It's a terrible footing to start out on.

It just shows the low regard that she / the Tories have for the "other" nations of the UK outside of England / Westminster. If ever there was a great advert for independence for Scotland (or Wales, or reunification of Ireland), surely this is it?

Another nail in the coffin of the union, driven by the soon to be leader of the party that are the single biggest gift to the Independence cause.

Tories will continue to squabble over 50% and falling share of the vote in Scotland with the other unionist parties, continue to be relegated into insignificance in every Scots election, and their supporters will continue to come on to Mumsnet and other SM and bleat about Scotland being a 'single party state', 'undemocratic' and such, as if it's the SNP's fault the Tories are utterly unelectable and rejected time after time by Scots voters.

Maybe take a look at themselves first of all if they want to know why they are despised.

I too was shocked to read this. Irrespective of what she may think about SNP they are democratically elected and she has to deal with sturgeon if she becomes prime minister. She has behaved deeply unprofessionally in saying that. Not a good image .
if I was sturgeon I’d be sending a private message to her reminding her if she does get elected ignoring her is not an option and to stop using her as a political soundbite.

It’s interesting that the so called unionist party is likely playing a big part in the break away of Northern Ireland and Scotland from the UK.

I can agree with the words given the context - another referendum. If it had been in general then I wouldn't agree. But on that topic I do.

That's a non-sequitur fallacy as it only demonstrates Rees-Mog's view of Douglas Ross as a leader.

Ruth Davidson was taken so seriously by the London based Conservatives to the point she was considered future PM material after her excellent efforts turning the Scottish Conservatives around. Davidson ended the old SNP joke about pandas and Conservatives in Scotland.

I was disappointed when Bojo resigned as Independence support went up every time he opened his mouth, but if Liz wins I can breathe a sigh of relief.
Some people might like to think she's hated in Scotland etc but the SNP keep getting voted in to be the Scottish Government democratically and such a churlish unprofessional comment like that will help support for independence.

Yanbu but we are used to it. The English view Scotland with indifference at best but usually it's just outright contempt and it's such a shame that such a large number of my country men and women have so little faith in our nation (although after 300+ years of being told how shit, poor, and stupid you are it's not surprising a few would believe it).

@Everanewbie it was never touted to be a "once in a generation" referendum. That myth stemmed from a foreword written by Alex Salmond in a SNP white paper, where he said the referendum was a once in a generation opportunity. The line is now used by unionists in an attempt to dismiss and ignore the fact that there have been some seismic changes since 2014 and that almost every promise, pledge, and "vow" made by the union has been broken.

Why do the tories fight to keep Scotland in the Union? It is well known that the Tories look to cut costs, reduce spending and turn a profit at every opportunity.

So why would they want Scotland, a country that has never voted for them and (according to many very ill informed individuals) is a huge financial drain on England, to remain as part of the union?

The answer to me would appear to be either the Tories are actually a bunch of benevolent philanthropists (LOL) or more likely that Scotland is actually a huge benefit to England and having unfettered access to our resources is worth more than the administrative costs.

To borrow from our Celtic cousins "our day will come" (and hopefully sooner than you think).

Do you have any data demonstrating English attitudes towards Scotland in the manner you describe?

What pledge was broken that you're referring to?

If I were you, I'd refrain from using a SF/PIRA slogan as you did at the end of your post. It's really not a good look.

No. It demonstrates perfectly the attitude of the Tory party towards Scotland in 2022. A cabinet minister who is so unskilled at politics that he blithely dismisses one of his own.

The Westminster Tory party who fawned over Ruth Davidson is largely gone.

And that's what you call Circular Reasoning Fallacy as well.

"...a logical fallacy in which the reasoner begins with what they are trying to end with."

It really doesn't follow that if one says something negative about one individual that it also extends to a national collective. Non-sequitur.

The Ruth Davidson example is still valid as it shows your assertion doesn't stand up. They made her a Peer, after all.

I do like the fact Douglas Ross didn't agree with Johnson just because, but he does need to become something like Davidson. Unfortunately, I don't think he's ultimately got what it takes.

It made me laugh personally because of the truth in it. However it was a daft thing to say and just helps Sturgeon's arguments and sense of grievance. Far better to have said something bland about working with our devolved parliaments....and then privately ignoring her.

I don't understand the 'this is misogynism' comments and 'a man would not have said this about another man.' Not true. Male MPs are always insulting each other and firing shots at each other left right and centre. Why are people wilfully denying this fact?

Also, when I was visiting a relative once, and a general election was coming up, the Tory representative was doing the rounds in her area, and they said 'don't vote for Jeremy Corbyn, he's a thick communist who is over privileged. A true champagne socialist ... Vote for Labour at your peril.'

Men are very scathing towards one another in politics (and in general tbh.)

The Tory rep was a man (obviously!) ^

@VivaMazVegas - this Scot agrees for sure!

I don't want to see Scottish independence, I don't think the SNP are doing a good job in Scotland and I don't like Nicola Sturgeon.

However, whether we like her or not is totally irrelevant. She is the democratically elected First Minister of Scotland, and as such, she should be treated with an appropriate level of respect by MPs at Westminster. I don't rate Liz Truss very highly in any case, but even so, I was utterly shocked that she could be so arrogant and dismissive towards a leader that was legitimately chosen by the Scottish people.

I have no doubt that attitudes like that will push more Scottish voters towards independence than any argument that Nicola Sturgeon can make... and who could blame them, frankly?! The soon-to-be Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has just shown total and utterly disrespect for the democratic will of the Scottish people.

The fact that Liz Truss thinks she can say this with impunity sets off real alarm bells for me. She clearly has no judgement and no filter... could be very dangerous indeed!

I'm in Scotland and I wish I had the option to ignore Sturgeon.

I have mixed emotions on this.

firstly she’s right about Sturgeon - she is an attention seeker and is best ignored.

on the other hand Truss shouldn’t have said that in the position she’s in. I do worry about how loose she is with her mouth, wasn’t that long ago she was goading Putin 🤦‍♀️ I dread to think what shit she could get us into

The Ruth Davidson example is still valid as it shows your assertion doesn't stand up. They made her a Peer, after all.

They did make her a peer. And yet the fact remains that the Tory party in 2022 is not the one who adored Davidson when she was Scottish Tory leader several years ago. We can all see that. ERG Headbangers Utd. would be an appropriate new party name for them.

But I'm sure we'll have plenty more opportunities to see the little regard that the Tories have for Scottish politics.

Hilarious. The Tory party are the gift that keep on giving. Do none of them think before speaking?

Oh the irony of someone putting themselves up to be PM accusing someone of being an attention seeker. You couldn’t make it up.

that’s quite apart from what an appallingly arrogant and undemocratic thing to say.

'However, whether we like her or not is totally irrelevant. She is the democratically elected First Minister of Scotland, and as such, she should be treated with an appropriate level of respect by MPs at Westminster.'

Tbf Sturgeon used to mock BJ constantly calling him a 'charlatan' so perhaps she should follow your advice too.

That said Truss should be the better person and not mock other leaders no matter how much they deserve it.

I do worry about how loose she is with her mouth, wasn’t that long ago she was goading Putin 🤦‍♀️ I dread to think what shit she could get us into.

Yep, that's my concern. As a prospective PM, she is incredibly stupid to be making this kind of statement. What else might she say?

I think that is how a lot of the 'general public', English and Scottish, view Nicola Sturgeon.
I like PP comparison between her and an anoying fly that won't go away. She certainly needs to focus on actually improving things for Scotts, not just making noise

The general public can say what they like. And Truss can think what she likes. But it's a bit embarrassing when the woman who would be PM decides this is an appropriate thing to vocalise.

Quite a lot of scots think that independence is how things get better in Scotland, not least all those scots who voted SNP on the basis of indyref2 being at the forefront of their manifesto. Y'know, the party who absolutely walked the last election?

Just saying.