Truce holds firm as Prime Minister Boris Johnson praises Douglas Ross despite letter of no confidence, as Ross brings out Ukrainian activist Zenya Dulph
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THE PRIME Minister complimented Douglas Ross's leadership during his Scottish Conservative Party conference speech today in Aberdeen, as the Scottish Tory leader platformed a Ukrainian-Scottish activist rather than speaking at length.
Moray MP and Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross walked out alongside Ukrainian activist Zenya Dulph and let her take the reigns after losing his voice yesterday.
After a heart-wrenching speech from Ms Dulph, Mr Ross said a short introduction before Boris Johnson took the stage.
Mr Ross said: "It is right that we recognise the tremendous effort that the UK Government are putting into alleviating as many problems as possible and seeking to address the situation as quickly as possible.
"I am pleased to say now that we will hear from the Prime Minister now on the issue of Ukraine."
The two leaders shared a brief, fly-by handshake as Mr Ross departed.
Despite the Scottish leader not personally praising Mr Johnson, the Prime Minister talked up Mr Ross in a sign that bad blood from Mr Ross's letter of no confidence may have drained away.
He said: "It is by driving that levelling up agenda in every part of Scotland, and a relentless focus on people's real priorities, combined with a fearless interrogation of the First Minister each week, that Douglas Ross has been able to defy the sceptics.
"He stopped Nicola Sturgeon from getting an overall majority as people said that she would.
"He got more votes than any other Scottish Conservative leader, including Ruth Davidson brilliant though she is. He got 100,000 more votes.
"I will tell you the other reason why Douglas has been so successful.
"He is the only political leader in Scotland saying loud and clear, what should be blindingly obvious to everyone, that this is not the moment to be having another referendum."
Central to the Prime Minister's speech was a doubling down on boosting domestic oil and gas extraction, in line with statements by north east politicians earlier today.
Mr Johnson's said his motive for this was the ongoing Ukraine crisis.
He said: "There is one crucial way that we can all begin to help the world to stand up to Putin and that is to wean ourselves off our dependence on his oil and gas.
"And in that great national and that great international effort, Scotland will be in the lead.
The Prime Minister went on to discuss renewable energies' part in this, but emphasised oil and gas to huge applause.
He said: "Are we not crazy to be talking about completely shutting down domestic production only to buy oil and gas at a vast markup from Vladimir Putin's Russia.
"Yet that, unbelievably, is the stated policy of the Scottish National Party and the Labour Party.
"It is vital to recognise that, in this transition, there will be a continuing role and vital role for oil and gas.
"That's why it makes sense for our government to continue to help that crucial industry in the north east of Scotland with a North Sea Transition deal worth £16 billion.
"Together, our country, the UK, is leading the world in standing up to the hydrocarbon drug-pushing bully of the Kremlin.
"Together, we are going to wean ourselves off of that addiction to Russian hydrocarbons and together we are a force for good in the world.
Earlier in his speech, the Prime Minister appeared to make a gaffe.
When discussing Covid, Mr Johnson referred to "the testing systems which relied on labs here in Glasgow".
He was speaking in Aberdeen.
