Tories blame SNP 'grievance agenda' for fall in number of people dancing in Scotland

The SNP said the claims were 'strictly' nonsense

Judges on television's Strictly Come Dancing rate a performance (BBC Pictures)

A fall in the number of people dancing in Scotland is the fault of the Scottish National Party, the Conservatives have claimed.

The number of people who reported dancing regularly has halved from 14 per cent to seven per cent since 2007 when the SNP first formed the Scottish Government.

In a statement on the figures the Tories blamed the nationalists’ “narrow-minded constitutional wrangling and grievance agenda” for sapping the energy of the Scottish public.

“If ever proof was needed that the SNP has sapped the energy from people’s feet, this is it,” said Jackson Carlaw, the Scottish Conservatives’ health spokesperson.

“It’s clear thousands of people right across Scotland are worn out by the nationalists’ narrow-minded constitutional wrangling and grievance agenda.

“You could say the Scottish Government has been doing a Charleston all this time. But there is a serious side to these figures too: They show that many have turned their back on once-popular activities – particularly dancing – which contribute to a healthy lifestyle.

“That is of great concern, and I hope we are somehow able to turn this around in future years. With challenges like obesity and diabetes causing increased trouble for the NHS, we need to press home the importance of an active and energetic approach to life.”

The figures were revealed in the latest Scottish Government 2014 household survey, which asked 10,000 people about their exercise habits.

The light-hearted jibe at the Scottish government was met with derision from Scotland’s ruling party.

An SNP spokesperson hit, telling Scotland’s The National newspaper: “This is ‘strictly’ nonsense – as usual, the Tories are out of step with opinion in Scotland, and are set to be left reeling at the election in May.”

The SNP has run Scotland since 2007 and increased its majority at ever election since then. Polls suggest the nationalist party will be returned with an even bigger majority at Scottish parliamentary elections in May next year.

Similar figures for England released last month showed big falls in the number of young children taking part in dance, music, and drama activities. Labour blamed cuts to the arts council and local authorities, in that case.