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Ian Murray panned for ‘disgraceful' U-turns as past motions resurface

Ian Murray panned for ‘disgraceful' U-turns as past motions resurface

The Nationala day ago
The Scottish Secretary signed Early Day Motions on a range of topics while Labour were in opposition, including demanding full compensation (and free bus passes) for the Waspi women, membership of the EU's customs union and unilateral nuclear disarmament.
They have all now ditched by Labour after coming to power.
A motion that Murray backed in 2019 also took aim at the record of US president Donald Trump, including his "misogynism, racism and xenophobia'.
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It also called on the then UK Government to rescind the offer of a full state visit to President Trump.
Now as Scottish Secretary, Murray has said he would 'meet Donald Trump off the plane'.
It also comes as Trump is reportedly expected to touch down in Scotland to visit his golf courses at the end of July or the beginning of August.
The SNP have now hit out at Murray, saying that the U-turns are 'disgraceful' – also taking aim at what they said was his previous 'uncharacteristically strong' support for Palestine and gender reform.
(Image: NQ)
The party pinpointed a motion in 2017, which Murray supported, raised concerns over the Israeli government's treatment of Palestinian children while another from 2011 called for the UK Government to officially recognise a Palestinian state – the new Labour Government has not yet done so.
Murray also supported a motion in 2017 which said gender identity "includes those who do not identify as either male or female, identify as both, a third gender or are fluid in their identity".
But as Scottish Secretary, he refused to rule out lifting the Tory-imposed veto on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.
"Labour's Secretary of State for Scotland's transformation from backbench idealist to Cabinet loyalist is not just disappointing, it's disgraceful,' SNP MSP Gordon MacDonald told the Sunday National.
'From Palestine to pensioners, nuclear weapons to the EU, he has abandoned almost every principle he once claimed to champion.
'His constituents, and Scotland, deserve better than a minister who has traded his principles for power - as ever, Scotland is an afterthought for Labour politicians.'
Scottish Labour have been approached for comment.
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