Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson was last night accused of shedding “crocodile tears” over the chancellor’s plans to cut tax credits.
Ahead of the UK Government’s double defeat in the Lords on Monday, the MSP said the policy was necessary, but called for it to be introduced more carefully.
Her intervention came under fire yesterday from Liberal Democrat peer Lord Purvis of Tweed, who described it as “truly shocking”.
The former Tweeddale MSP said: “The Scottish Conservative leader cried crocodile tears while booking the flight tickets for Scottish Conservative peers on a three line whip to go to London to vote against the interests of the lowest paid in the country.”
His remark prompted an angry response from the Scottish Tories, who dismissed it as “truly silly stuff”.
A Scottish Conservatives spokesman added: “He joins the growing ranks of failed Lib Dem politicians desperately cranking up fake outrage in a hopeless bid to get noticed.
“Ruth and many other Scottish Conservatives have held a consistent position throughout this episode.
“We want to see higher wages replace a tax credit system which costs the taxpayer billions and subsidises low wages, but we also want to ensure that reform is done in a way that protects the working poor.
“The chancellor has shown he wants to respond to that argument and support working families.
“The priority now is to get that right – unfortunately, it seems the Lib Dems prefer scoring cheap political points.”
Lord Purvis said he had little hesitation in voting against George Osborne’s plan, adding: “It’s become clear in this new parliament that it’s becoming the Lib Dems that are speaking for the low paid.”