Scottish election 2021: Westminster lobbying raises 'serious questions'

Westminster lobbying raises 'serious questions'

The Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross has said there are "serious questions" that need to be answered over lobbying in Westminster.

It comes after the prime minister was accused of "sleaze" in his dealings with businessman Sir James Dyson.

Mr Ross said the findings of ongoing inquiries will be examined "closely".

It comes after SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford called for Boris Johnson's correspondence on Covid contracts to be secured and published.

Speaking to BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show, Mr Ross was asked about the ongoing lobbying row in Westminster.

The row developed after it emerged businessman Sir James Dyson had directly contacted Mr Johnson over tax issues when working on ventilators during the pandemic.

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Mr Ross said: "I've been absolutely upfront and honest about this, there are serious questions that need to be answered with the lobbying allegations - I believe eight separate independent inquiries including a number of UK Parliament select committees looking into this.

"They will report and people will look very closely at findings."

Mr Ross was also asked if he agreed with former minister Johnny Mercer who described the UK government as "a bit of a cesspit".

He responded: "I also sit alongside Johnny Mercer, I have spoken to him since he resigned and I have a different interpretation of how the government works."

'Smoke and mirrors'

The PM's former chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, also claimed Mr Johnson had a "possibly illegal" plan for donors to pay the refurbishment.

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme "everything has been fully declared" in line with the rules.

But she did not answer repeated questions on whether a Tory party donor initially provided the money to him.

Mr Blackford said Ms Truss had demonstrated the UK government operated in a "smoke and mirrors manner".

He said: "Rather than hiding behind Tory ministers, Boris Johnson must now come before Parliament and answer these very serious questions for himself.

"Whether it is contracts for cronies, donations for decorating, or text messages for tax breaks, it is time for the Tories to put all their dealings into the public domain and let them be properly investigated."

SCOTLAND'S ELECTION: THE BASICS

What's happening? On 6 May, people across Scotland will vote to elect 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). The party that wins the most seats will form the government. Find out more here.

What powers do they have? MSPs pass laws on aspects of life in Scotland such as health, education and transport - and have some powers over tax and welfare benefits.

Earlier in the programme, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar accused the SNP and Conservatives of "playing up on each other's divisions".

He said: "The wider political bubble is obsessed about a referendum and not the pandemic.

"I'm recognising it's a pandemic election - they want to go back to the old arguments, the old divisions, settling the old scores.

"What I'm not willing to do is have a route map that speaks to half the population."

Outside political interviews, parties also hit the campaign trails on Sunday.

The Scottish Greens took part in a litter pick in Edinburgh to highlight their proposal to eliminate single use plastics by 2025.

And Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie discussed his plans to support Police Scotland through mental health initiatives.

Proposals include recruiting specialist mental health staff to work alongside the force and giving officers who experience mental distress access to professionals.

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