DOUGLAS Ross and Rishi Sunak have met in Number 10 to help reset the relationship between the UK and Scotland.
The Scottish Conservative leader and the Prime Minister met for about half an hour this afternoon and discussed the cost of living crisis and ways of boosting the economy north of the Border.
It is understood no date has yet been set for the PM to visit Scotland but last week The Herald was told he hoped to visit in the coming weeks.
Following the meeting, Mr Ross wrote on Twitter: "Really productive meeting with Rishi Sunak in 10 Downing Street earlier today. A positive discussion about what we can do to help people, families and businesses in Scotland and across the United Kingdom."
Really productive meeting with @RishiSunak in @10DowningStreet earlier today. A positive discussion about what we can do to help people, families and businesses in Scotland and across the United Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/QztDMcMLe5
— Douglas Ross MP MSP (@Douglas4Moray) October 31, 2022
A Scottish Conservative spokesman said: “Douglas had a productive and constructive meeting with the Prime Minister.
"The topics they discussed included the support the UK Government are providing Scottish households in the global cost-of-living crisis and delivering growth in the Scottish economy.”
But Kirsten Oswald MP, the SNP deputy leader at Westminster, said the Prime Minister and his predecessors had "entrenched" poverty in Scotland.
“Rather than delivering real support and protecting people's livelihoods, Rishi Sunak and his predecessors have been intent on imposing austerity 2.0 and further entrenching the poverty they have caused - and Douglas Ross and the rest of the Scottish Tories have backed their Westminster bosses all the way, regardless of the cost to Scotland," she said.
“The only way for Scotland to escape another decade of Tory austerity is to become an independent country.
"People in Scotland will have their say on this - it is for them to decide Scotland’s future. Douglas Ross nor Rishi Sunak, or any other Westminster politician will stand in the way of democracy.”
The meeting comes six days after Mr Sunak became Prime Minister and just over two weeks ahead of Chancellor's budget on November 17 which is expected to set out spending cuts and tax rises to fill a black hole of up to £50 billion in the UK's public finances over five years.
At his first cabinet meeting last Wednesday, the new PM said that “difficult decisions” would be needed to restore economic stability after the turmoil of the Liz Truss era.
The Prime Minister phoned First Minister Nicola Sturgeon within hours of his appointment last Tuesday telling her he wants to work constructively with her government.
His prompt phone call and desire for a more positive engagement was seen as signalling the desire for a more collaborative approach from the new Prime Minister towards Scotland.
It also followed the turmoil of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss’s careers in Downing Street and a planned return to greater co-operation advised by Michael Gove when he had ministerial responsibility for the Union.
During the Conservative leadership election in the summer Ms Truss described Ms Sturgeon as an “attention seeker” who was best ignored. Mr Sunak was critical of her comments.
It is also understood Mr Sunak also wants to work more closely with the Scottish Conservatives after relations soured under Mr Johnson, who was regarded by many in the party as toxic north of the Border.
Mr Ross's relationship with the former Prime Minister, who stood down in September, deteriorated after the Scottish Tory leader became the first senior Conservative MP in January to call for him to resign over the partygate scandal.
He later withdrew his demand following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but the relationship did not fully recover.
A senior Conservative source told the Herald on Sunday said that the meeting today is regarded as a "sign that the Prime Minister really wants to engage and is aware of the significance of the constitutional issue".
The source added: "They’ll be looking at a strategy how to approach the constitutional issue and how to be as constructive as he can with the Scottish Government.
“We are conscious of not wanting to give the SNP any opportunities to say ‘the UK Government is being unreasonable’ because, we feel, the First Minister likes this grievance narrative.
“We are looking to be as reasonable and open as we can, while clearly disagreeing on the central issue [of the constitution]. But we want to engage.”
The UK Government has previously underlined the support it is giving to Scottish households and businesses with soaring energy bills.
It has also underlined it is investing more than £200 million in Scotland to boost the post-pandemic recovery and enhance the Scottish economy.
The support includes £172 million from the Levelling Up Fund for eight projects including the redevelopment of Inverness Castle, the renovation of the Westfield Roundabout in Falkirk, and a new marketplace in Aberdeen City Centre.
As Chancellor Mr Sunak announced a cost-of-living support package worth £1,200 for eight million low income households across the UK in May.
Scotland’s most vulnerable households, including elderly pensioners and those with disabilities, will receive up to £1,650 of extra help, including £300 through the winter fuel payment, £400 from the energy bills grant, and £150 from the council tax rebate.
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