Exclusive:The SNP 'don't own Scottishness or the Saltire', Tory shadow Scots secretary to say

Harriet Cross will say in a speech at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham that “our argument for the Union cannot simply be that we oppose independence” and that it “has to be about what we believe in.”

She will also add that she believes in “a Scotland that is more than an endless debate about the constitution.”

Ms Cross is expected to say: “I’m proudly Scottish, despite what some people on social media say. I’m proudly British.

“And I refuse to accept the nationalist argument that you can’t be both.

“The SNP don’t own Scottishness. They don’t own the Saltire. And they don’t get to decide that those of us who believe passionately in the United Kingdom somehow love Scotland any less.

“We don’t. And I think we should – indeed we must – say that with confidence.

“Because our argument for the Union cannot simply be that we oppose independence. It has to be about what we believe in.

“A Scotland which encourages people to start a business, instead of taxing them out of existence.

"A Scotland that embraces our oil and gas sector that helps power our country.

"A Scotland that is proud of the role we play in the UK’s defence, agriculture, and fishing.

"A Scotland that is more than an endless debate about the constitution.

"That’s the Scotland I want to make the case for.”

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The Gordon and Buchan MP is speaking at the Scottish fringe event at the conference on Sunday.

It is her first conference speech since being appointed to Kemi Badenoch’s shadow cabinet in August.

She took over from West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MP Andrew Bowie, who became shadow energy secretary.

Ms Cross was first elected as an MP at the 2024 general election. She was made an opposition assistant whip just a few months later.