'Stop blaming EVERYONE ELSE' Sturgeon blasted over collapse of £10BN China deal
NICOLA Sturgeon has been urged to stop blaming “everyone else” for the collapse of a controversial £10 billion deal with a Chinese consortium.
Ruth Davidson tells Nicola Sturgeon to 'stop blaming everyone else' over £10BN China deal in FMQs
The First Minister signed off a "memorandum of understanding" with a Far East consortium at Bute House in March.
But the deal was criticised by opposition parties amid concerns about the human rights records of the firms involved.
Sturgeon gets destroyed in parliament over China deal
Ruth Davidson says the First Minister should remove the 'shroud of secrecy' over deals
Earlier this week it emerged state-backed SinoFortone and China Railway No 3 Engineering Group backed out in August after the political fallout was badly received in the Far East, where the agreement was known as the "Scottish shambles".
The First Minister remove the shroud of secrecy from deals
The Government has blamed opposition parties for fuelling a "climate of hostility" but ministers failed to make any contact with investors in the month's leading up to the deal's collapse.
Ms Sturgeon yesterday told MSPs her administration would continue to try and attract Chinese investment as well as investors from other counties.
Attacking rivals she added: "We have an opposition that demanded the cancellation of this memorandum of understanding, we have an opposition that had a hysterical over-the-top reaction to this memorandum of understanding.
Sturgeon responds to opposition party leaders during first ministers questions
"So, while I take responsibility for learning lessons, I really do think the opposition also have to reflect on their behaviour, which led to a political climate in which these partners felt they couldn't proceed."
But Tory leader Ruth Davidson said it was "embarrassing for our country" adding: "Rather than blaming us, or blaming Brexit, or blaming the weather, will the First Minister remove the shroud of secrecy from deals like these and be straight with the Scottish people?"