Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay has warned against embracing the "politics of envy" after Reform UK Scotland leader Malcolm Offord revealed during a TV debate that he owns six houses, five cars and six boats.
Speaking on the election trail at Union Bridge on the Scotland-England border, Mr Findlay said it is "questionable" whether Mr Offord's comments would impress those "struggling with the cost of living".
During the STV election debate on Tuesday, Lord Offord insisted he was not seeking to "boast" as he described his journey to London 40 years ago "full of ambition". He added: "I worked hard, and I was successful. Today, I own six houses, five cars and six boats. In a 40-year business career, I've employed hundreds of thousands of people and paid £45 million in tax."
Mr Findlay stated that the Tories are the "party of aspiration" and that hard work should be rewarded. He said: "It's slightly questionable whether people who are struggling with the cost of living would be impressed by someone bragging about owning multiple boats and properties, but I think we should be careful not to embrace the politics of envy that you see from people like John Swinney and Ross Greer. We are the party of aspiration. We are the party that want to see hard work rewarded, not sneered at."
Mr Findlay also addressed the threat of another independence referendum, saying: "You just have to listen to John Swinney. In the very first week of this election campaign, he went up the top of the hill in Edinburgh to join flag-waving nationalists who only care about breaking up our country. He said repeatedly that he's going to win a majority, and with that demand a referendum. He's also said that in the first week of the new Parliament, he'll bring a vote before Parliament demanding another referendum, which the people of Scotland do not want."
He criticised Labour and the Liberal Democrats for being "naive and complacent" about the threat, and described Reform UK as a "fake unionist party". He urged voters to unite behind the Scottish Conservative Party on May 7, using their peach-coloured ballot paper.
