The leader of the Scottish Conservatives mocks an SNP rival for having a Scottish accent [VIDEO]

The leader of the Scottish Conservatives has been urged to apologise after mocking an SNP politician for having a Scottish accent.

The accent joke

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson is a divisive figure in Scotland. The Tories became the nation’s second party after the Blairite strategy of John McTernan and Jim Murphy saw Labour wiped out in the 2015 general election. In the Scottish parliamentary elections of 2016, Davidson’s Conservatives were up by 16 seats. But they were still a long way from threatening the 60-plus seats of Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP.

Scottish Conservatives are often accused of being not quite Scottish enough. Davidson’s behaviour this week will do nothing to calm those concerns. Speaking during the independence debate at Holyrood, the Scottish Conservative leader took the floor of parliament to mock the accent of an SNP rival.

There's your craven Scot Tory @RuthDavidsonMSP making fun of @JoanMcAlpine for having the insolence to speak in her own accent. pic.twitter.com/4DHTog2wz9

— robert (@RobDunsmore) March 28, 2017

The reaction

Reaction to the incident was immediate. Davidson has voluntarily become the caricature of the Scottish Conservative. A self-hating Scot, serving Westminster interests.

https://twitter.com/UpIander/status/847025318816874497

Anger as Ruth Davidson mocks rival MSP’s Scottish accent. What a graceless person the Leader of the Opposition is https://t.co/8OKpd8LX3D

— Sandy Sneddon (@SandySneddon) March 29, 2017

Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Tories, mocked a fellow MSP during a Holyrood debate today *for having a Scottish accent* 😶😬😤

— Rambling Pitchfork (@rampitchfork) March 28, 2017

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf tweeted: “Worst I’ve heard Ruth Davidson in chamber – mask slips as she resorts to personal attacks & rudeness towards opponents”.

There have been calls from Scottish Greens and the SNP for Davidson to apologise for her remarks. At the time of writing, no apology was forthcoming.

Get Involved!

– Support The Canary if you appreciate the work we do.

Featured image via YouTube Screengrab