The SNP has unleashed a ballroom blitz on the Tories after claims a drop off in dancing means the Government is out of step with its own health policies.
Despite weekly encouragement on the radio from Robbie Shepherd and the rising popularity of television shows like Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing on Ice, the number of Scots who now take the floor has halved since 2007.
Conservative health spokesman Jackson Carlaw laid the blame squarely at the Scottish Government’s door, despite sporting participation going up overall.
SNP MP Pete Wishart said: “Where we have responsibilities over large swathes of devolved responsibilities as far as I can make out the Bluebell Polka and Viennese waltz are not included in any current ministerial portfolio.
“I think Scots everywhere will be having a good laugh at this Tory tragedy on the dance floor this morning. It’s like observing some really embarrassing dad dancing! Perhaps it’s time for the Tories to get off the dance floor, take the quickstep to Holyrood and try to have a meaningful cha cha with Ministers”.
A survey of householders across the country revealed that while 14% said they danced regularly eight years ago, when the SNP came to power, that plunged to just 7% last year.
While the percentage of people dancing has halved in the past eight years, the number of people involved in sporting activity increased by 5%.
Walking is the largest driver, with the number of people doing at least half an hour increasing from 56% in 2007 to 64% last year. That took the total sporting participation from 73% to 78%.
Swimming, aerobics and weight training all remained roughly the same.
The number of people playing football fell by 2% but there was an increase in runners and cyclists by the same amount.
Sharp falls were in the playing of golf from 9% to 6% and snooker, billiards or pool, from 9% to 5%.
Mr Carlaw said: “If ever proof was needed that the SNP has sapped the energy from people’s feet, this is it.
“You could say the Scottish Government has been doing a Charleston all this time.”