Tory leadership candidates Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak last night both rejected the possibility of a second Scottish independence referendum.

Mr Sunak said it's "quite frankly barmy" that any government would focus on an independence referendum during the cost-of-living crisis.

And Ms Truss said she would not allow another independence referendum if she was elected.

The BBC reports that, for nearly two hours, the pair pitched for the votes of Scottish Conservative members at the Perth hustings.

The two contenders to replace Boris Johnson are taking part in a series of events around the UK. The UK will find out its next prime minister on September 5.

The event in Perth gave local Tory members the chance to question the candidates on Scottish issues as well as other topics such as the cost of living and taxation.

Having previously said she would ignore First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Ms Truss clarified that she wanted a "constructive relationship" with the Holyrood administration, but would ignore calls for another independence referendum.

Beating Sturgeon

Mr Sunak said: "I don't just want to ignore Nicola Sturgeon; I want to take her on and beat her."

As he promised to end the "devolve and forget mentality", Mr Sunak told party members: "I will not be shy about calling out the SNP's record on things like drug and alcohol abuse, because it is not good enough and the Scottish people deserve better."

Both candidates discussed freeports - areas where imports are exempt from tariffs - and the benefits of Brexit.

Ms Truss insisted rising energy costs were a problem for businesses as well as consumers.

She added: "Of course I understand people's concerns. What I'm saying is what we need to do is deal with the supply issue. That is the important thing we need to deal with now."

Ms Truss said the "right incentives" must be in place in the North Sea and it is the wrong time "to put up taxes and to put up taxes on business because we need businesses to invest in new solutions".

Asked about what help she could give small firms, Ms Truss replied: "First of all not raising Corporation Tax, and reversing the National Insurance increase, will help businesses."

Scottish Cluster

Mr Sunak was questioned about the Scottish Cluster initiative, which could lead to thousands of jobs - and has at its heart the Acorn carbon capture and storage project based at the St Fergus gas terminal.

There was widespread dismay last year after the UK Government decided to snub the north-east in a £1billion funding competition which saw two rival projects south of the border being successful, leaving the Scottish Cluster only a reserve.

When the former Chancellor was asked if he had blocked the north-east project, he replied: "No, I funded carbon capture and storage with a billion pounds. No, I funded it overall for the United Kingdom. We backed two freeports for Scotland."

On whether he would back Acorn, Mr Sunak said he was"always happy to look at what we're doing to support the Scottish economy because it's important that we do".

On the cost-of-living crisis, Mr Sunak said he would cut VAT off energy bills.

He would bypass the Scottish Government to deliver funding directly to councils in Scotland.

And Ms Truss said the number of defence contracts being given to Scottish firms would increase if she became prime minister.


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