Russell Findlay slammed for 'insulting' claim Tories lifted people out of poverty

The new Scottish Conservatives leader said "lifting hundreds of thousands of people out of poverty" was some of the "good we did as a UK Government."

Russell Findlay has been slammed for an "insulting" claim the Tories lifted people out of poverty while in government.

The new Scottish Tory leader said in a speech that "lifting hundreds of thousands of people out of poverty" was some of the "good we did as a UK Government."

Labour blasted his comments as "out of touch" and "insulting", while the SNP said Findlay "should take responsibility" for having "exacerbated poverty" in Scotland.

Findlay was elected as Scottish Conservatives leader on Friday, winning by a clear margin over Murdo Fraser and Meghan Gallacher. He was speaking during his first speech in the role at the Conservative party conference in Birmingham yesterday.

Findlay had backed Liz Truss to be Tory leader in 2022. Her seven-week stint as PM resulted in market turmoil, with experts saying the cost-of-living crisis was worse in the UK because of her decisions.

The West of Scotland MSP said: "All the good we did as a UK Government… Four million more people in work, raising the Personal Allowance, unstinting support for Ukraine, same-sex marriage, welfare reform, the pension triple lock, lifting hundreds of thousands of people out of poverty

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: "Russell Findlay has shown how out of touch he is as he desperately attempts to defend the Tories' indefensible record in government.

"The Tories heaped misery on some of the most vulnerable people in Scotland, and it is insulting to pretend otherwise."

SNP MSP David Torrance said: “The Tories’ woeful economic incompetence and cruel policies like the two-child benefit cap and rape clause – now endorsed by Labour – did immeasurable harm to households and exacerbated poverty in our communities.

"Russell Findlay, who backed Liz Truss and her mini budget, should take responsibility for the role he played in this.

"In contrast, with limited powers and resources, the SNP Government is prioritising tackling poverty, with policies such as the Scottish Child Payment ensuring that an estimated 100,000 children will be lifted out of poverty this year."

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