Gray resigns as Shadow Scottish Secretary

Friday, 20 May 2005 12:00 AM

The Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland has resigned after publicly attacking the make-up of the Holyrood parliament.

After just one week in the job, James Gray caused indignation by telling The Scotsman that MSPs should be scrapped.

Mr Gray is reported to have said that Scottish MPs should deal with Scottish business at Holyrood, and UK business at Westminster.

David McLetchie, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, is said to have erupted when he read Mr Gray's comments, having spent years trying to portray the Conservatives as supporters of the devolution settlement.

In his resignation letter to Conservative leader Michael Howard, Mr Gray said he fully supported the party's policy on devolution.

"I understand that the words I used in recent interviews might be open to misinterpretation," the MP for Wiltshire North said.

"I would not want there to be any misunderstanding, and I have no wish to embarrass the party in Scotland, or you.

"For this reason, I believe the right course is for me to resign."

SNP group whip Pete Wishart tabled a Commons motion questioning Mr Gray's remarks.

He said the Tories were anti-Scottish "to the core".

"These outrageous comments by the Shadow Scottish Secretary could normally be dismissed, but this is the man chosen by Michael Howard to represent the Tories on Scottish issues in the House of Commons. Is this a sign of official thinking in the shadow cabinet?

"The Tories need to decide who speaks for them on Scottish policy and where the power over Scottish policy lies."

Eleanor Laing, Epping Forest MP, is expected to succeed Mr Gray.

She held the Shadow Scottish Secretary brief under William Hague's leadership between 2000-2001.

SNP leader Alex Salmond said the Tories had reached farcical depths.

"They either want to cut Scottish spending, abolish the Scottish Parliament or think Scotland is an 'unattractive' place to live," he said.

"You can't have a credible Scottish spokesperson in such an anti-Scottish party."

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