Nicola Sturgeon must not be ignored after Truss labels “attention seeker.” Rishi says

• Rishi Sunak has said that Nicola Sturgeon should be beaten rather than ignored.
• Former chancellor says SNP “pose an existential threat to our cherished union”.
• Move comes after Liz Truss said she would ‘ignore’ Ms Sturgeon if she became Tory leader.

Rishi Sunak has said that Nicola Sturgeon should be beaten rather than ignored, a dig at Liz Truss, who called Scotland’s first minister a “attention seeker” earlier this week.

Mr Sunak claimed that Ms Sturgeon and her SNP party “pose an existential threat to our cherished union,” adding, “Arguing that we should ignore them is dangerously complacent.”

“We can’t just bury our heads in the sand and pretend they aren’t there – we need to stop them in their tracks,” the former chancellor said.

“And that’s exactly what I would do as prime minister – holding the SNP to account for its failings and personally ensuring that the UK government has a laser focus on delivering for every part of our United Kingdom.”

It comes just days after Tory leadership frontrunner Ms Truss said she would “ignore” Ms Sturgeon if she became the Conservative Party’s next leader.

The foreign secretary attacked Scotland’s first minister during a Tory leadership hustings in Exeter.”attention seeker” and responded “no, no, no” when asked about the prospect of another independence referendum if she were to become PM.

“I really believe we are a family, and we’re better together,” she said.

“I think the best thing to do with Nicola Sturgeon is ignore her. She’s an attention seeker, that’s what she is.”

However, the SNP reacted angrily to the “cack-handed” remarks, claiming that they would only increase support for independence.

Kirsten Oswald, the party’s deputy leader in Westminster, said: “The likely next prime minister has made it crystal clear that the partnership of equals Scotland was promised in 2014 was a sham.”

“Firing cheap shots to grab headlines is straight out of the Trump playbook but reveals as never before the contempt Westminster has for the democratic choices people in Scotland make and the elected Scottish government.”

Ms Sturgeon herself acknowledged the remark on Friday evening, tweeting a photo of a seal with the caption: “This adorable seal was spotted in Argyll. I believe he or she is looking for attention.”

If she becomes prime minister, the foreign secretary is expected to announce that she will review the levelling up formula to address underinvestment in regional infrastructure and that transportation links will be better integrated across buses, roads, and rail.

Ms Truss will go on to say that her administration will take advantage of the UK’s “new Brexit freedoms,” such as creating low-tax, low-regulation “investment zones” on brownfield sites.

Ms Truss stated ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Saturday, “My mission as prime minister will be to level up opportunity and realise aspiration no matter who you are or where you live.”

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