Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay has hit out at First Minister John Swinney after rejecting his invitation to attend his anti far-right summit.
The summit, set to take place at Bute House, was announced in February with the aim of uniting Scotland against what Swinney called the "increasingly extreme far-right".
The Tory leader claimed the event was "not required" and accused Swinney of using the meeting to "deflect from the SNP's dismal record".
In a letter to the First Minister, Findlay described the summit as a "talking shop" - but Swinney expressed disappointment at Findlay's decision, saying he appeared to be "searching for reasons not to take part" in the important discussion.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay has hit out at First Minister John Swinney after rejecting his invitation to attend his anti far-right summit
GB News / PA
Discussing his decision on GB News, Findlay claimed Swinney "leads a government that is dishonest" and "opposed to transparency".
Findlay fumed: "Nobody's exactly sure what John Swinney is talking about, frankly. He initially said his summit was to oppose polarising forces in politics, and I wrote to him to say, well, you are the party of polarisation.
"You spent your entire life trying to break up the United Kingdom and vilifying those who want to preserve our country. You've spent the past few years pushing radical gender ideology in people to the detriment of women's rights, polarising society further.
"And you lead a government that spends its time being dishonest with the public and being opposed to transparency."
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John Swinney has gone on record to attack Reform UK, labelling them 'far right'PARevealing Swinney's response to his letter, Findlay told GB News that the summit is merely a "stunt" to "deflect from his own miserable failed record".
Findlay said: "My call to John Swinney was, if you want me to attend this event, why not commit to addressing those four issues? And he wrote back to me, he didn't even attempt to address them, which left me to conclude that this summit was exactly what people suspected it was.
"And that was a stunt created by John Swinney in order to deflect from his own miserable failed record of government - 18 miserable years in which Scotland has been let down."
In a further attack on Swinney's leadership, Findlay urged the First Minister to address the "disgraceful and dangerous drugs war" that is affecting major parts of Scotland, rather than hold an "anti far-right summit".
Findlay told GB News that Swinney should focus his attention on Scottish issues such as the 'drugs war'
GB News
Findlay concluded: "Right now across the central belt of Scotland between Glasgow and Edinburgh, there is a continuation of a drugs war, a turf war that's been taking place now for the best part of a quarter of a century. Prior to becoming a politician, I investigated and reported on organised crime in Scotland and these gangs are utterly despicable, parasitical and cowardly.
"And the latest outbreak of violence has seen homes of people firebombed, and frankly, it's a miracle that no one has yet died. There have been multiple deaths as a result of this drugs war, which is involves two of the largest organised crime groups in Scotland."
He stated: "So I'd perhaps suggest John Swinney's time would be better served addressing this disgraceful and dangerous drugs war that is taking place across Scotland."
The First Minister said he wanted to bring together political and civic leaders including trade unions, churches and charities to agree a "common approach" on Scottish values. He warned that "storm clouds were gathering" over the threat posed by a rise in support for right-wing politicians across Europe.
