SCOTTISH Conservative leader Douglas Ross has addressed reports that he is facing a leadership challenge.
It was recently reported in The Scottish Sun that there were “at least two separate moves” against Ross in the works.
At the time, a Scottish Tory spokesperson said that Ross was “focused on holding the SNP to account and tackling the cost-of-living crisis.”
In an interview with Good Morning Scotland, the Scottish Tory Leader said Liz Truss could “absolutely” survive following increasing reports of a rebellion within the party.
Asked if his own job was under threat, Ross said: “Yes, I can survive as well. If anyone else wants to do that they can get up and do the early morning GMS interviews as well.”
However, the politician did not deny that there were moves being made against him. Asked if he knew who they were, he said: “If these anonymous sources want to put their name to it, then I’ll happily go and speak to them.
“I have my views but I’ll keep that to myself. They are anonymous because they are not willing to put their name to it.
“When they put their name to it, then I’ll have an open discussion with some of them.”
Ross was then pressed on whether this would be an issue for him.
He said: “I think everyone knows that in every party there’s people who would like to have more of a role, would maybe like to say more and they will put down anonymous quotes.
“That’s not unique to the Conservative Party. Sadly it’s not even unique to politics.”
Ross also said it was “right” the Chancellor reversed the decision to abolish the 45p tax rate for top earners as he was grilled about the rising cost of mortgage payments.
Figures released yesterday showed that the average two-year fixed-rate mortgage on offer is edging closer to 6% as lenders continue to push up their rates.
The SNP’s housing spokesperson Patricia Gibson has previously warned that the UK Government is “causing a spiralling housing crisis” that will leave many unable to afford their mortgage payments.
Following the mini-budget announcement, interest rates soared whilst hundreds of mortgage products vanished from the market.
Ross was quizzed on people’s mortgages being “unpayable” during the GMS interview.
He said: “The government have looked at that. We expect politicians to take account of circumstances and the Chancellor saw the impact that the 45p rate was having and he changed that decision and I think that’s absolutely right.”
Douglas Ross has been avoiding interviews for 2 weeks. Here’s why #bbcgms @ScotTories pic.twitter.com/j82xUWwy8n
— Phantom Power (@PhantomPower14) October 5, 2022
The Scottish Tory leader was then told the U-turn hadn’t brought the cost of borrowing down which is what has an impact on people’s mortgages.
Ross replied: “It certainly strengthened the sterling again, we saw that almost immediately."
Host Martin Geissler interrupted to once again remind Ross that the Chancellor’s dramatic U-turn had not brought down the cost of borrowing.
Ross replied: “But Martin I was saying the sterling is back to a higher position than it was prior to the mini-budget.”
Geissler added: “Perhaps because the Bank of England has fire-hosed money back into the economy to stop pension funds from collapsing, another impact of that catastrophic mini-budget.”
Ross then continued: “As I was saying though Martin, I think it is right that governments and politicians look at these issues and respond and that’s exactly what the Chancellor did at the start of this week.”
The politician was then asked if the government was going to intervene to help those who are struggling with their mortgage payments.
Geissler said: “People aren’t going to thank you for bringing their energy bill down when they’re going to lose their house.
“What do you say to somebody who are about to lose their house because they can’t pay their mortgage, ‘oh well at least we brought the heating bill for your old house down.’”
Ross answered: “Martin I don’t think anyone is saying that, I said right at the beginning of this interview that these are really challenging times.”
