Russell Findlay told the Conservative Party’s UK conference that a divided UK is “a gift to our enemies”.
asserted
UK → tell → enemies
Scottish First Minister John Swinney is pushing for a second independence referendum before the end of the current Holyrood term in 2031 but Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said there is “no clear consensus” for such a vote.
asserted
Burnham → push → vote
“We face Russian hostility in our waters and Iranian plots on our streets.
asserted
We → face → streets
“These totalitarian regimes want a divided United Kingdom.
asserted
regimes → want → Kingdom
And we have SNP politicians who share that aim.
asserted
who → have → aim
“They want to shut down Faslane.
asserted
They → want → Faslane
They oppose Britain’s armed forces.
asserted
They → oppose → forces
They would make us less safe.
“
asserted
us → make → ?
He also criticised SNP leader John Swinney for forming an “alliance” with Sinn Féin at a summit in Cardiff earlier this month, saying it was a “disgrace” that Mr Swinney was working with them to “destroy the United Kingdom”.
asserted
Swinney → criticise → Kingdom
Mr Findlay also used his speech to launch Scottish Conservative plans for a Benefit Fraud Bill to fix the SNP’s “broken” benefits system.
asserted
Findlay → use → system
He said the SNP’s approach “traps people on the misery of Benefits Street and gives a green light to chancers and crooks”.
asserted
approach → say → chancers
The Scottish Conservative leader said that by 2031, Scotland’s benefits bill will be more than £9 billion and that social security should be there for times of need and should not be a “lifestyle choice”.
asserted
security → say → need
Mr Findlay said: “We will introduce a Benefit Fraud Bill to help recover overpayments.
asserted
We → say → overpayments
We will demand taxpayers get their money back, instead of just asking nicely.
asserted
taxpayers → demand → money
“Overpayments could be taken directly from bank accounts, as happens elsewhere in the UK.
uncertain
Overpayments → take → UK
“Driving licences could be confiscated if refunds are not forthcoming.
uncertain
refunds → drive → ?
Our law would double the maximum sentence for benefit fraud to 10 years.
asserted
law → double → years
“Our Bill will end the irresponsible tick-box approach for claims and create a statutory aggravator for benefit-related fraud.
uncertain
Bill → end → fraud
This means that prosecutors would take a stronger approach when taxpayers have been robbed.
asserted
taxpayers → mean → approach
“Benefits should be for those suffering genuine hardship.
asserted
Benefits → suffer → hardship
That would deliver true fairness, dignity and respect.”
asserted
That → deliver → fairness
Later in the afternoon, Mr Findlay also addressed the issue of Scottish independence in a separate speech on the main stage at the conference, where he warned that those who say the threat to the Union has passed are “dangerously complacent”.
asserted
threat → address → Union
He said that the SNP have never respected the result of the 2014 independence referendum result but pledged that he and UK Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch would stand up to them.
asserted
he → say → them
Mr Findlay said: “I’ll keep fighting for Scotland.
asserted
I → say → Scotland
I’ll stand up to divisive nationalism.
asserted
I → stand → nationalism
“I’ll back oil and gas, just as we did in the Aberdeen South by-election.
asserted
we → back → election
“And with Kemi, we’ll show the people of Scotland there is another way.
asserted
we → show → Scotland
SNP MSP Alex Kerr said: “Nothing will strengthen Scotland’s standing in the world more than becoming an independent country and rejoining the international community in our own right for the first time in over 300 years.
“
asserted
Nothing → say → years
In May of this year the SNP were returned to government for a historic fifth term on a pledge to give the people of Scotland a referendum on independence – while Russell Findlay led his party to its worst ever Scottish Parliament election result.
uncertain
Findlay → return → result
“Russell Findlay is completely obsessed with the SNP, so it’s no surprise he’d rather spend his conference speech talking about us, rather than what he has to offer the people of Scotland – which is clearly very little.
asserted
which → obsess → Scotland
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Public bodies in Scotland already have a duty to ensure that public funds are properly authorised and controlled and deliver value for money.
asserted
funds → say → money
“Every benefit application is subject to a robust decision-making process, with applications assessed thoroughly ensuring support only goes to those who are eligible.
asserted
who → assess → those
“All intelligence on suspected fraud is thoroughly investigated, with appropriate actions taken.”
asserted
actions → suspect → fraud
The Aporia
