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Scottish Tory leader takes a pop at Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak is the talk of the Scottish Tory fringe at Conservative party conference — but perhaps not in the way the Prime Minister might hope. Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross wasted no time at all at making a dig at his boss — perhaps a sly retaliation to the fact Rishi Sunak wasn’t able to name even four members of Ross’s shadow cabinet this summer. How very awkward… 

‘I am the final speaker before the Prime Minister comes,’ Ross announced to a gathering crowd, ‘so I have some small housekeeping duties to do…’

‘As the Prime Minister will be coming up on the stage, I just need to sort this out for you, before he’s in the room,’ the Scottish Tory leader continued — before deftly flicking his bendable microphone down to waist height. Ouch. It’s hardly a good sign for Sunak’s first conference when his own party is busy making fun of him… 

Rishi didn’t bat an eyelid however — he’d spent his Sunday afternoon swotting up on Scottish Tory names, after all: 

Give a shout out to Alister [Jack], our phenomenal Scottish secretary.

Steerpike
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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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