In a speech on Sunday, Douglas Ross will say Nicola Sturgeon has become “detached from working class communities” scarred by drug deaths and other scandals built up over the SNP’s 14 years in power.
Speaking at a Scottish Conservative fringe event at the party’s conference, he will accuse the SNP leader of becoming “out of touch” and no longer representing hardworking people across Scotland.
He will say there is a “representation gap for working people” in the Scottish Parliament, and that Holyrood “ignores” and “belittles” the values of working people.
He will say the Scottish Conservatives are the only party now standing up for the values of working people against the “cosy Holyrood consensus” on issues like free speech and fair justice.
The Scottish Conservative Leader will set out the party’s plans to break the “yellow wall” of the SNP and build the real alternative for “everyone who just wants to get rid of this nationalist government”.
Douglas Ross will be introduced at the event by short speeches from several new Scottish Conservative MSPs.
Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross will say: “Working class people across Scotland look to Holyrood and see a Scottish Parliament that does not represent them. That largely ignores them and belittles their values.
“There is a representation gap for working people. Until recently, many of them had turned away from politics entirely. They used to have a party to vote for - but it left them behind years ago.
“My party will not look backwards. We are looking forward, to the next wall to fall.
“It won’t be red this time. It will be SNP yellow.
“Nicola Sturgeon has become detached from working class communities scarred by drug deaths and marred by all the other failings that her government is too distracted to tackle.
“She has become out of touch, talking down to everyone who doesn’t speak at her supposedly higher level of intelligence.
“No government for working people would bring in the Hate Crime Act. No government for working people would ever treat crack cocaine less seriously than littering. No government for working people would mess football fans and clubs around with a shambolic vaccine passport plan.
“In the election this year, we won 100,000 more votes. Those votes came from communities, like where I grew up. And we know those votes came from communities that fiercely and proudly consider themselves working class.
“They are not only people lending us their vote. They are working people who in many cases, rarely or never vote. The people who look at Holyrood and think ‘who will speak up for me and my values’?
“There is once again a party standing up for working people. Even if we have to do it alone against the cosy Holyrood consensus, which we will. And even if the SNP try to isolate us at every turn, which they will.
“The Scottish Conservatives are building Scotland’s real alternative to the SNP for working people across the country. A real alternative for everyone who just wants to get rid of this nationalist government.”