Borders MP, John Lamont, has invited Nicola Sturgeon to the Borders to meet with local residents, after she said she ‘detests Conservatives’.
Ms Sturgeon made the comments during an interview on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg on the BBC.
In a letter to the First Minister, Mr Lamont said that her comments were ‘incendiary’ and ‘fuels hatred’.
He went on to say, ‘it is an insult to the 25,747 people in my constituency who voted Conservative’.
John said that ‘I don’t despise anyone who votes for another party. When people come to me for help, I ask what they need, not how they voted’.
The full text of the letter can be seen below:
Dear First Minister,
I write to you following your shameful comment at the weekend that you ‘detest Conservatives’.
Yes, we are political opponents. I will always campaign passionately for Scotland’s place in our United Kingdom. And I don’t doubt that you will continue to try and split up our country at every turn.
But using language like you did at the weekend, that you “detest” Conservative voters, is dangerous. It is incendiary. It fuels hatred.
A reckless statement like that lets down the people in my constituency and across Scotland who didn’t vote for the SNP.
It is an insult to the 25,747 people in my constituency who voted Conservative at the most recent General Election.
The good people of the Borders deserve better. My constituents should feel represented by the First Minister of Scotland, no matter how they voted.
I don’t despise anyone who votes for another party. When people come to me for help, I ask what they need, not how they voted. I work hard for my local constituents no matter if they’re nationalist or unionist, SNP or Conservative.
So I am writing to you today as the Member of Parliament for 25,747 people you despise - and as the Member of Parliament for everyone else in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk too.
You are welcome to visit my constituency anytime to explain to local people why you detest many of us.
My constituents in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk would welcome you paying more attention to them. Far too often, their concerns are completely overlooked by your government at Holyrood.
Yours sincerely,
John Lamont MP
