Moray MP Douglas Ross says Nicola Sturgeon should “give it a rest” and focus on the issues that really matter to the area after she announced a fresh push for independence.
Douglas hit out at the First Minister and the Scottish Greens for diverting money away from frontline services in Moray during a cost-of-living crisis towards plans for another divisive referendum.
He says that another referendum is “completely the wrong priority” for Moray at a time when council budgets have been hit with further cuts by the SNP-Green government, maternity services at Dr Gray’s are predicted not to be fully restored until 2031 and local jobs and services are only just getting back on their feet after the pandemic.
Douglas says the people of Moray want the SNP-Green government to be focused on the challenges immediately facing their community, not on being distracted by their obsession of breaking up the United Kingdom.
In 2014’s referendum, voters in Moray voted by 58% to 42% to remain part of the United Kingdom, a vote which Douglas believes Nicola Sturgeon continues to disrespect with plans for another referendum.
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “Nicola Sturgeon needs to give it a rest. The people in Moray will be completely dismayed that the SNP leader, backed up by the Greens is pressing ahead with yet another push for independence.
“It is clear that this will always be the number one priority for this SNP-Green government, despite all the challenges Moray is facing right now.
“Moray council have had their budget slashed year after year by the SNP-Green government. Mothers still have to make the treacherous journey on the A96 to give birth as the SNP have still not restored maternity services at Dr Gray’s.
“Our local economy and businesses are only just recovering from Covid, while alongside individuals they are now feeling the effects of the global cost-of-living crisis. Our roads are in urgent need of upgrading and our health service is dealing with a huge backlog of operations.
“That is where the focus the people of Moray want Nicola Sturgeon’s energy to be on, not being distracted by her obsession of breaking up our United Kingdom.
“It is completely unacceptable that resources are being diverted away from frontline services in Moray to be prioritised on dividing us all over again. People in Moray overwhelmingly voted to remain part of the United Kingdom in 2014 and their votes should be respected by Nicola Sturgeon.
“She needs to focus on the real challenges facing Moray, rather than taking her eye off the ball again and obsessing about independence.”