Scottish Tory attacks on Boris Johnson may be a 'plot to break away from UK'

Scottish Tory attacks on Boris Johnson over partygate are undermining the Union and may be fuelled by a plot to sever links with the UK party, a former Scotland Office minister has warned.

Colin Clark claimed that the chasm between Tory MSPs at Holyrood, some of whom maintain the Prime Minister must quit now, and Number 10 risked “overshadowing the benefits of the UK” in the minds of voters.

He also said that the latest partygate position adopted by Douglas Ross, who this week said Mr Johnson should resign but only once the war in Ukraine is over, would not stand up to scrutiny from Tory supporters nor the wider public.

The former MP, dubbed "the Salmond slayer" after he unseated the former first minister in the 2017 election, suspects tensions are being stoked by figures who want the Scottish party to break away from the UK Conservatives.

'Drop the hair shirt politics'

There has been a long-running debate over the idea of setting up a new centre-Right Scottish party which would not be formally aligned with the Conservatives, although Mr Ross does not back the plan.

“The blatant attacks on the PM by MSPs overshadow the benefits of the UK," Mr Clark told The Telegraph, as he called on his party to "drop the hair shirt politics".

"It's untenable and phone canvassing during the council elections, at least in the north east of Scotland, did not show the bitterness towards Boris Johnson at grassroots levels.

“Douglas should build bridges between Westminster and Holyrood MSPs, but now he has to watch his back.

“This could all be driven by an agenda for a formal split between the Scottish and UK party. I very much doubt that would get the support of members on the ground.”

Mr Ross, the Scottish Tory leader, began an unprecedented rebellion against No 10 in January, when he said the Prime Minister should quit after he admitted attending a Downing Street party.

However, he retracted his letter of no confidence to the 1922 Committee in March, citing the need for stability during the war in Ukraine.

MSPs 'poured scorn' on Ross' position

Following the publication of the Sue Gray report on Wednesday, Mr Ross said the Prime Minister should resign but only once the war in Ukraine is over.

While Mr Ross’s stance on the Prime Minister’s future - his fourth this year - has raised eyebrows among Scottish Tories, Mr Clark is the first senior party figure to publicly voice concerns.

“Douglas Ross tried detente with No 10 but his MSPs poured scorn on his position,” Mr Clark, who lost his Westminster seat in the 2019 election, said.

“This new position [he should go but not immediately] will not stand up with the public or Conservative supporters.

“Douglas has gone down a cul-de-sac, he has been badly advised. This all stems from the previous Scottish leadership who loathed Boris, was bitterly against Brexit and is frankly way out of line with the Conservative party in the rest of the country.”

Mr Clark was appointed a Scotland Office minister in Mr Johnson’s first government. He has previously fallen out with other senior figures in the party, and an internal committee led by Ruth Davidson blocked him from standing in the last Holyrood elections.

While Mr Ross is no longer calling for Mr Johnson’s head immediately, several of his MSPs, including Finlay Carson, Alexander Stewart, Maurice Golden and Brian Whittle, have maintained that he should quit.

The Scottish Conservatives declined to comment.