NICOLA Sturgeon has said she would relish an election fight with Boris Johnson as she twisted the knife in the Tory family wounds caused by the Prime Minister.
At First Minister’s Questions, Ms Sturgeon mocked acting Scottish Tory leader Jackson Carlaw over the resignation of Ruth Davidson last week.
The First Minister also raised the Prime Minister’s own brother deserting him because of the damage he was going to the national interest.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon quizzed on Brexit, sectarian marches and Scotrail in heated FMQs
It followed Mr Carlaw saying that in an election his party would offer progress of schools, jobs and the police, not “more years of division” with Ms Sturgeon.
She replied: “ I cannot help thinking that, if the Conservatives had any confidence whatsoever in that message, Ruth Davidson would still be standing where Jackson Carlaw is standing right now.
“She cannot stomach the direction that Boris Johnson is taking this country in.
“Boris Johnson’s own brother cannot stomach the direction that he is taking the country in.
“So the question is, why should the people of Scotland be forced to put up with that?”
She went on: “I really relish the prospect of a general election. The SNP will beat the Tories in a general election, just as we have done in the past number of elections.
“Unashamedly and unapologetically, in that election, the SNP’s message will be clear: we stand up for Scotland’s opposition to Brexit and we stand up for Scotland having the right to choose our own future and not to have a future imposed on us by Boris Johnson.”
The choice is clear:
🔵If you want more years of division – vote SNP🔘If you want to get back to the things that matter – schools, jobs, police – vote for us#FMQs
— Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) September 5, 2019
Mr Carlaw said: “Scottish Conservatives will stand up for and stand by our decision to remain within the United Kingdom, to back the decision people made across the UK to leave the European Union, to ensure this country can move on.
“If you want more years of division, vote for Nicola Sturgeon.
“If you want to get back to the things that matter – schools, jobs, police, the people’s business – vote for us.
“That is the clear choice that Scotland now faces.”
Earlier, Mr Carlaw had criticised Ms Sturgeon for not supporting a Brexit deal, despite her MPs backing an emergency law at Westminster to avoid no-deal.
The BIll, which is expected to become law on Monday, sets a deadline of October 19 for the PM to get a deal through the Commons or the PM must seek an extension from the EU.
After Ms Sturgeon said she didn’t want to leave the EU at all, and neither did most Scots, Mr Carlaw accused her of feigning interest in any kind of deal.
He said: “Let us spell it out. The First Minister does not really want to see successful negotiations between the UK and the EU. She has just said as much.
“She wants the negotiations to fail. It is not in her interests to strengthen the UK’s hand in those talks; she wants to weaken the UK’s hand in those talks.
“The First Minister does not want people in Scotland to be able to move on from this; she is determined to keep it dragging on and on and on. Is it the case that this First Minister has never seen a referendum result that she does not want to overturn?”
READ MORE: PM accused of 'sacrificing' his own brother after Jo Johnson dramatically quits politics
Ms Sturgeon said she wanted the 62-38 win for Remain in Scotland to be respected.
Mr Carlaw said: “The last thing the SNP wants is for Scotland to move on and - together with the rest of the UK - secure a Brexit that works for everyone. She wants to drag the process out, and plunge Scotland back into the divisions of recent years.
“The Scottish Conservatives will stand up for and stand by our decision to remain within the UK, and back the decision made to leave the EU. To get back to the things that matter – schools, jobs, police. Nicola Sturgeon would only bring chaos and uncertainty.”
Government’s plans for the next year">Scottish Conservative interim leader Jackson Carlaw suggested the First Minister wants the UK’s negotiations with the EU to fail (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Later at FMQs, the Scottish Green criticised this week’s programme for government for lacking ambition to tackle climate change.
MSP Alison Johnstone said its measures to cut carbon emissions were “small steps” and called for a mass reforestation of Scotland’s grouse moors.
She said the SNP would miss its target to have 21 per cent of Scotland forested by eight years, while it would take 150 years at its current pace to reach the EU average of 40%.
FM: "Scotland did not vote to leave the European Union. Any self-respecting Scottish politician would actually stand up for what Scotland voted in the EU referendum." #FMQs
— The SNP (@theSNP) September 5, 2019
She said: “There is no shortage of opportunity. Almost a fifth of Scotland is a grouse moor - burnt, degraded and managed so that a few people can enjoy blood sports.”
Ms Sturgeon said Scotland was last year responsible for 84% of all trees that were planted across the UK, and had put an extra £5m into increasing its target from 10,000 hectares to 12,000 hectares, adding: “There is no lack of ambition here.”
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