Scottish Conservative Deputy Leader Meghan Gallacher closed her party's conference todaybytelling delegates that Humza Yousaf's independence strategy should be scrapped altogether.
Responding to reports on the BBC, that Humza Yousaf is rethinking the SNP’s independence strategy,Meghan said:
“Instead of rethinking his party’s independence strategy why doesn’t Humza Yousaf rethink his government’s flimsy NHS recovery plan.
“Or the blueprint for closing the education attainment gap. Or programme to grow our economy.
“The SNP independence strategy doesn’t need changed; it should be scrapped altogether.”
Meghan Gallacher said Humza Yousaf should focus on Scotland’s real priorities, not the selfish priorities of the SNP.
Meghan–who was making her first conference speech since returning from maternity leave–also attacked Labour’s failure to stand up for the United Kingdom and said Keir Starmer’s price to get into Downing Street would bea“sleekit”backroom deal with the SNP over indyref2.
Notes: A full transcript of Meghan's speech is below:
Thank you, Holly,
Good afternoon, Conference,
It is an honour and privilege to address you here in Glasgow and bring our conference to a close.
Being back in Glasgow for conference is bittersweet for me.
When we last met here in 2017, I was at the start of my political career.
I was just about to be elected as a councillor for my hometown of Motherwell.
And it was also a good time for our party, on the cusp of success in the local and general elections.
But it was also here - during our last conference in Glasgow - where I lost a dear friend and mentor, Marjory Borthwick.
Marjory was a stalwart of the Conservative Party and for those who knew her, a force to be reckoned with.
Over the last two days, I have managed to catch up with friends who have shared fond memories of Marjory,
I know she would be delighted with the progress we have made in Scotland, particularly in North Lanarkshire, as the Scottish Conservatives are firmly back on the map.
It was Marjory who convinced me to first stand for election in 2015.
I was only 23 years old at the time and I thought she was having me on.
But she gave me the opportunity, believed in me, and encouraged me to stand time and time again, saying that one day‘it would pay off’
I know my elected colleagues, Councillors, MSPs and MPs don’t say this enough, but we rely so much on all of you for more than just campaigning.
Our party would not be what it is without the support, guidance, and shoe leather of volunteers like Marjory.
Marjory’s persistence did pay off.
As I went on to become a Councillor, MSP and now standing here today as your Deputy Leader.
I often get asked –
“What does the Scottish Conservative Party offer a working-class woman from Holytown”
And my answer
“Well they made me their Deputy Leader”
I am determined to use this role to support the next generation of MSPs and MPs in our party.
People like Holly, Ruairi Stewart, Harriet Cross, and Noah Khogali – all ones to watch for our future.
Friends, many of you will know that I returned from Maternity leave in January.
Stepping away from the cut and thrust of frontline politics to care for a new-born baby changed my perspective completely.
And yes, it gave me and my fiancé a few sleepless nights.
But, out in the real world, people across Scotland are really worried.
They are worried about whether they will be able to make ends meet to provide for their family.
They are worried about an overwhelmed NHS.
And they are worried about how much worse it is all going to get before it gets any better.
And how they are looking for anyone, anyone to focus on their real priorities.
Yet instead what they have right now is this SNP Government.
Because let’s not beat around the bush here conference, the SNP have given up on running our country.
I would trust my new-born child with our vital public services before I trusted Humza Yousaf’s government.
We used to say that they were incompetent now we say they are incapable.
The Party who used to put blind loyalty before what’s best for Scotland have found themselves engulfed in scandal after scandal,
Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation threw the SNP into Civil War, splitting the Party into three separate camps.
Proving that apart from their shared goal of splitting up our United Kingdom, they have nothing in common with each other.
Although, I didn’t realise that SNP Leaders inherited a campervan.
I’m sure Douglas Ross feels somewhat short-changed by the Scottish Conservatives,
He didn’t inherit a motorhome-
But he won something better.
He won the bet against Nicola Sturgeon,
Who arrogantly placed a bet with Douglas that she would outlast him as Party Leader
Well, she has now lost everything.
Not just control of her Party, but any credibility she had during her time in office.
Her legacy is nothing more than division and secrecy.
She leaves office in disgrace.
The SNP Leadership election was their opportunity to put all of this behind them
But instead, they elected Hapless Humza.
Sturgeon’s ‘continuity’ successor.
The man who can’t run a scooter, never mind a country.
And Humza Yousaf announced this morning that he is rethinking his party’s independence strategy.
Apparently, the SNP master plan needs a few tweaks.
Instead of rethinking his party’s independence strategy why doesn’t Humza Yousaf rethink his government’s flimsy NHS recovery plan.
Or blueprint for closing the education attainment gap.
Or programme to grow our economy.
The SNP independence strategy doesn’t need changed;
it should be scrapped altogether.
Humza Yousaf should focus on the real priorities of Scottish people.
Not the selfish priorities of the SNP.
And at the heart of this plan is a sleekit backroom deal with Labour to demand Indyref2 – as the price of SNP support for a Keir Starmer Government.
Humza Yousaf would never in his wildest dreams expect any Conservative Government to barter away the future of our country.
That is because the SNP suspect what we in this hall already know;
Labour are weak on the Union.
In Scotland, it is only the Scottish Conservatives who have the backbone to hold the SNP to account.
Because, as we see too often, Labour and Liberal Democrats offer no opposition to the SNP.
We saw that with the Gender Recognition Reform Bill.
I heard from Scottish women’s organisations and women’s rights campaigners that Labour MSPs had promised their opposition to the Bill.
And we all saw the briefing given to the media that they wanted substantial changes before they could support it.
Even their own women members opposed this Bill, yet Anas Sarwar whipped his MSPs to support it.
A Bill that allows male sexual predators access to women only spaces.
A Bill that could put vulnerable young people at risk.
A Bill that Labour supported.
Anas Sarwar has backed his position on the Bill at every turn.
Even when two of the three SNP Leadership candidates said the Bill was wrong – Anas Sarwar continued to defend it.
Just think of that.
Humza Yousaf has seen more opposition to the Gender Reform Bill from within his own party than from Labour.
In communities right across Scotland, they talk a good game about standing up to the nationalists.
Yet their little secret is that they agree with them on 99% of their policy.
It’s not just gender reform.
On raising taxes on working families – Labour are in agreement with the SNP.
On giving criminals short and easy sentences – Labour are in agreement with the SNP.
On attacking free speech – Labour are in agreement with the SNP.
On wanting to shut down Scotland’s oil and gas sector and the jobs it secures– Labour are in agreement with the SNP.
I could go on.
I have seen it time and time again.
Labour MSPs lining up to vote for SNP legislation.
They are not in opposition; they are in coalition.
Labour cannot be trusted.
Friends, with an SNP Government engulfed in sleaze and scandal.
And a Labour Party supporting rather than opposing it-
The Scottish Conservatives are the only party that can focus on the real priorities of the Scottish people.
And over the last two days we have all heard clearly how the Scottish Conservatives will do this.
This conference has delivered.
More speeches than ever before,
More panel events than ever before,
More fringe events than ever before.
And for those who were at Toryoke, certainly more fun than ever before.
We have spent two days talking about things that really matter.
From tightening up community sentencing, backing victims rather than their perpetrators,
Ambitious education policies to reinstate Scotland’s reputation of delivering a world class education for our young people
Driving down A&E waiting lists and making sure that people can access a GP no matter where they live,
Making sure our rural communities are valued with policies tailored to suit their needs,
To ensuring that home ownership is not an unaffordable aspiration for Scottish families.
And delivering a transition to net zero that protects jobs and cuts household bills.
The Scottish Conservatives have plans to tackle the big challenges we all face.
As a new mother, I was heartened to see the UK Government announce a major expansion of free childcare in England,
Families will be able to access 30 hours per week from the point that maternity leave ends.
This will be transformative in allowing new mothers to return to the world of work
And it will also benefit the UK economy, yet here in Scotland, our childcare sector is so demoralised and underfunded that I doubt they will be able to deliver that.
Humza Yousaf has already rowed back on making the same pledge by stating that funding would start on a child’s first birthday rather than at nine months.
And its due to be achieved a year later than in England.
Talk about watering it down.
There can be no ifs or buts.
Scottish mothers looking to get back to work cannot be short-changed by Humza Yousaf’s government.
We need to see the same commitment made in full by this SNP Government, so that parents benefit from the same revolution in childcare.
Conservatives are renowned for giving people the tools they need to succeed,
Giving parents the tools to succeed will give our children the best possible start in life.
There would be no more postcode lottery,
As every family would be entitled to childcare support.
Those are Conservative values and I am proud that it is our Party leading the way on childcare.
Friends, this conference has seen lively debate and discussion.
Yet it has also shown that our party is bursting with ideas and ready to take those ideas and our positive vision to the country.
Because the Scottish people are looking for anyone to deliver fresh solutions to the old and new challenges our country faces.
They know that this SNP Government is falling apart before our very eyes.
Yet all they see from Labour is the usual politicking and opportunism.
So, it falls to us to be laser focused on their priorities, on the issues that matter to us.
Conference, I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to address you as your Deputy Leader.
Yet it is on the back of the tireless efforts of activists like Marjory that I am here.
She would have been proud of how far we have come.
Yet we have even further to go.
We have been given a massive opportunity to represent the vast majority of Scots who are prepared to support any party that will tackle the big challenges they face.
I know all of you will work as hard as you can to seize it.
Because we have the vision, the policies, the aspiration of a better future for our country.
We just have to get out there and sell it.
So, let’s take that message out of this hall and to the country that the Scottish Conservatives are focused on Scotland’s real priorities.