Scottish Tory leader rejects invitation to attend SNP summit

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay has formally rejected First Minister John Swinney’s invitation to attend a summit on democracy and respect.

In February, Swinney announced that he would convene a gathering of Scottish society to unite Scotland against the “increasingly extreme far right”.

Key organisations and leaders across Scotland have been invited – including churches, trade unions, charities and leaders of Scotland’s parliamentary parties.

However, at the start of the week, Findlay hit out at the summit as “yet another SNP talking shop”, which he said is “inherently divisive”.

In an open letter to the First Minister, Findlay laid out a series of “common sense requests” to accompany his RSVP to the summit.

Among them, Findlay urged Swinney to drop the SNP’s quest for independence and reverse his government’s position on gender ID reform guidance across the public sector.

He also requested Swinney apologise for SNP ministers “peddling misinformation and disinformation” and instruct ministers to “stop making false statements in future.”

In a response, the First Minister said he was “disappointed” that Findlay “appeared to be searching for reasons not to take part in this important discussion”.

“This gathering is an opportunity for Scotland to unite behind the common principle that far right and racist hatred should have no place in Scotland and to agree a common approach to asserting Scotland’s shared values and creating a cohesive society where everyone feels at home,” Swinney wrote.

“I hope that you will reflect, put aside politics and agree to take part.”

However, on Friday, Findlay confirmed that it would not happen and insisted that he wouldn’t take part.

The Tory leader said he does not believe the summit is required when he agrees that “racist hatred should have no place in Scotland”.

“It is disappointing that you have failed to address my reasonable requests, which are to stop seeking to split up our country, stop pushing gender self-ID policies and give a commitment to being transparent and truthful with the Scottish public,” Findlay hit back.

“These are consistent with your summit’s stated purpose of tackling ‘polarising forces’ in politics. If you wish to unite the country, you should begin by addressing these concerns, which the majority of people across Scotland share.”

Speaking at a press conference at Bute House in February, Swinney said the Glasgow summit would be an opportunity to renew public trust in politics and unite Scotland in a common cause – “for democracy and respect.”

“It is time to come together to draw a line in the sand. To set out who we are and what we believe in,” he previously said.

“The threat from the far right is real. But that leaves me all the more convinced that working together is not only the right choice, but the only choice.”