Nicola Sturgeon has 'constructive call' with new PM Rishi Sunak

Nicola Sturgeon has revealed she had a “constructive call” with new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday evening.

In a tweet, the Scottish First Minister said she “expressed hope” for the future relationship between the UK and Scottish Government during the call.

She said: “I expressed hope that we will build a UK/Scot gov relationship based on mutual respect – inc (including) for mandates – and my fear that further austerity will do real damage to people & public services.

“I look forward to further engagement soon.”

Constructive call with @RishiSunak tonight. I expressed hope that we will build a UK/Scot gov relationship based on mutual respect – inc for mandates – and my fear that further austerity will do real damage to people & public services. I look forward to further engagement soon
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 25, 2022

Rishi Sunak also confirmed on Twitter that he had spoken to both Nicola Sturgeon and Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford.

The Prime Minister said he “emphasised” their duty to work closely together.

He tweeted: “I emphasised our duty to work closely together to respond to the shared challenges we face, so that collectively we can deliver for the people of the United Kingdom.”

Former prime minister Liz Truss had not spoken to either Mr Drakeford or Ms Sturgeon during her brief spell in office.

Sturgeon had previously said the Conservatives “unleashed chaos” on the UK ahead of facing her fifth prime minister since becoming Scotland’s First Minister eight years ago.

Rishi Sunak spent Tuesday culling nearly a dozen of Liz Truss’s top-tier ministers after vowing to fix the “mistakes” of her leadership and bracing the nation for “difficult decisions”.

He revived the frontbench careers of Dominic Raab and Suella Braverman who were forced out under Truss but kept Jeremy Hunt as chancellor after the Conservative leader warned the UK is facing a “profound economic crisis” in his first speech since being appointed by the King.

The SNP called Sunak’s new Cabinet “dangerous”.

Kirsten Oswald, the SNP’s Westminster deputy leader, said: “Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet of Truss re-treads makes the case once again that independence is the only route to escape Westminster chaos for good.

“From a Justice Secretary who doesn’t believe in the Human Rights Act or economic and social rights to a fired then rehired Home Secretary with a twisted dream of deporting vulnerable people.

“A dangerous Cabinet imposed upon Scotland by the new unelected, out-of-touch, law-breaking Prime Minister.

“It’s beyond any doubt that only with the full powers of independence will we be able to escape the Tory chaos, Tory-made economic crisis, and build a fairer, more prosperous society.”