Latest news with #DavidMundell
ITV News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Around the House: The challenge to speed up justice and pay up for victims of two national scandals
Calls for a duty of candour in public organisations on tonight's Around The House, after this week's reports from the Post Office and Infected Blood inquiries. Borders MP David Mundell addresses many victims' hopes for senior figures to be prosecuted. The next edition of Around The House is on Thursday 11 September.
The National
10-07-2025
- Business
- The National
Minister pans 'nonsense' Tory claim SNP are punishing Unionist voters
David Mundell, the MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale, and Tweeddale and a former Scottish secretary, said during Scotland Questions at Westminster on Wednesday that the SNP has 'cynically and systematically deprived funding from areas that do not support independence', such as the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway. In response, Scottish Secretary Ian Murray claimed 'the whole of Scotland voted against independence in 2014' and accused the SNP of 'starving' the country's public services. Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee has hit back at Mundell's claims calling them 'completely false'. READ MORE: Ross Greer calls for Scotland to pivot towards wealth taxation 'These claims are total nonsense and completely false. The needs-based formula used to distribute the funding available for local government is agreed with Cosla on behalf of all 32 local authorities each year,' he said. "The Scottish Government has provided councils with a record £15 billion this year, a real terms increase of 5.5%. 'In 2025-26, NHS Boards will receive increased investment in their baseline funding, bringing total investment to over £16.2 billion.'' The Conservatives have previously faced their own allegations of 'pork-barrel politics' – where Tory-supporting areas are given more government support than opposition-supporting ones in a bid to shore up votes. Writing in 2020 of Boris Johnson's 'Towns Fund', professor of politics Chris Hanretty said: 'There is robust evidence that ministers chose towns so as to benefit the Conservatives in marginal Westminster seats.' In 2023, the SNP also raised concerns that levelling up funding in Scotland had disproportionately gone to Tory-supporting areas. Dumfries and Galloway council is currently controlled by the SNP, after the Tory administration collapsed before a no-confidence vote in June. The Scottish Borders council is also controlled by the Conservatives. In May, the Accounts Commission warned that all of Scotland's councils were facing a combined budget shortfall of £647 million in 2025/26. 'Whilst councils have partly met this shortfall through service savings and increased charges for services, continuing to use reserves and make one-off savings isn't sustainable,' the commission said.
Times
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Times
SNP punishing voters opposed to independence, claims David Mundell
The SNP government 'cynically and systematically' punishes voters who oppose independence by starving their public services of funding, a former Scottish secretary has alleged. David Mundell, who served in government under David Cameron and Theresa May, said NHS boards and councils in heavily unionist areas were 'struggling to provide basic services' due to what he suggested was a deliberate 'politically motivated' ploy by nationalist politicians. He cited Dumfries and Galloway, and the Scottish Borders, as parts of Scotland that were particularly struggling as a result of voters' 'pro-UK' constitutional views. While a majority of voters in 28 of Scotland's 32 council areas voted against independence in 2014, the idea was opposed in the south of the country, where two thirds supported remaining in the UK. Mundell made the incendiary allegation that SNP ministers were deliberately punishing pro-UK communities in the Commons, at a session of Scottish questions. While public services across Scotland have complained of being under financial pressure, Dumfries and Galloway council said in March that it had been forced to plug an 'unprecedented' shortfall of £30 million over three years. NHS Dumfries and Galloway has recently cut back on mowing lawns due to a need to deliver £23 million in savings. Mundell, the long-serving MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweeddale, asked Ian Murray, the current Scottish secretary, whether he shared his view that unionist areas were being deliberately targeted. Mundell said: 'Whatever the budget SNP Scottish government have, they have cynically and systematically deprived funding from areas that do not support independence, leaving councils like Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders and their health boards struggling to provide basic services.' Following his remarks in the Commons, Mundell claimed that his constituents felt they were being deliberately punished for their 'pro-UK views'. He added: 'The deeply damaging impact of the SNP's politically motivated decisions can be seen right across my constituency. Our NHS is in a state of permanent crisis, schools are being earmarked for closure and vital roads like the A75 and A76 have been left in a state of disrepair on the SNP's watch. 'I was speaking on behalf of many people in my constituency who are sick and tired of the SNP government ignoring this area and putting money into public services and major projects across Scotland. 'This area is long overdue its fair share and shouldn't be missing out for wanting to keep our close ties with our neighbours.' According to Audit Scotland, councils across Scotland face a £647 million gap between expenditure and the funding they expect to receive this year. As a percentage of their total revenue budget, Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway councils did not have a disproportionately large funding gap compared with other local authorities. However, Glasgow, Dundee and North Lanarkshire, three of the four areas to back independence in 2014, had below average budget gaps. The fourth, West Dunbartonshire, had a slightly higher shortfall than average. Responding to Mundell in the Commons, Murray said: 'The whole of Scotland voted against independence in 2014. And it seems to me that the SNP government strategy is to starve all of Scotland's public services of the vital funding they require.' The Scottish government has been approached for comment.
The National
09-07-2025
- Business
- The National
Scottish Tory claims SNP 'cutting funding from Unionist areas'
David Mundell, the MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale, and Tweeddale and a former Scottish secretary, made the allegations during Scotland Questions at Westminster on Wednesday. He said: 'Does the Secretary of State share my view that whatever the budget SNP Scottish Government have, they have cynically and systematically deprived funding from areas that do not support independence, leaving councils like Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders and their health boards struggling to provide basic services?' READ MORE: Insider lifts lid on workings of Corbyn-Sultana project in Scotland Scottish Secretary Ian Murray responded: 'The whole of Scotland voted against independence in 2014. 'It seems to me that the SNP Government strategy is to starve all of Scotland's public services of the vital funding they require.' The Conservatives have faced their own allegations of 'pork-barrel politics' – where Tory-supporting areas are given more government support than opposition-supporting ones in a bid to shore up votes. Writing in 2020 of Boris Johnson's 'Towns Fund', professor of politics Chris Hanretty said: 'There is robust evidence that ministers chose towns so as to benefit the Conservatives in marginal Westminster seats.' He added: 'Choosing towns to benefit a particular party goes against the seven principles of public life (the 'Nolan principles'), and in particular the obligation to 'take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias'. Former Tory leader Boris Johnson was accused of pork-barrel politics (Image: Jonathan Brady/PA) 'These decisions should therefore be examined both by the Public Accounts Committee and (since the decisions potentially involve a breach of the Ministerial Code, which incorporates the Nolan principles) by the Cabinet Office upon referral by the Prime Minister.' In 2023, the SNP raised concerns that levelling up funding in Scotland had disproportionately gone to Tory-supporting areas. 'This is no longer Levelling Up, this is pure naked pork-barrel politics with public money being used to try and buy electoral advantage", then-SNP president Michael Russell said at the time. Dumfries and Galloway council is currently controlled by the SNP, after the Tory administration collapsed before a no-confidence vote in June. The Scottish Borders council is controlled by the Conservatives. READ MORE: Seamus Logan: Keir Starmer's lack of principle will finish off the Labour Party In May, the Accounts Commission warned that all of Scotland's councils were facing a combined budget shortfall of £647 million in 2025/26. 'Whilst councils have partly met this shortfall through service savings and increased charges for services, continuing to use reserves and make one-off savings isn't sustainable,' the commission said. It further added: 'Capital funding from the Scottish Government is increasing but has not returned to previous levels. Councils remain heavily reliant on borrowing to fund their planned £4.7 billion capital investment in 2025/26.' The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.
Edinburgh Reporter
06-07-2025
- Edinburgh Reporter
Thousands claim their drinks have been spiked
Almost 8,000 people may have been spiked by drink or drugs on nights out in Scotland over the last five years. Police Scotland data shows 760 spiking incidents have been recorded since 2020 with campaigners warning these are just the 'tip of the iceberg'. Research by the Drinkaware charity has found only one in 10 spiking incidents are actually reported, meaning the true figure in Scotland may be closer to 7600 incidents. Police Scotland say 78 spikings reported involved 'administering a substance for sexual purposes' with the remaining 682 recorded as 'druggings'. The Scottish Government is under increasing pressure to follow the UK Government lead by making spiking a standalone offence in a bid to increase public awareness and encourage victims to report incidents. Scottish Conservative Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell said: 'Having long campaigned for spiking to be a standalone offence, I am very supportive of the provisions within the UK Crime and Policing Bill and of the calls by my constituents, Colin and Mandy Mackie and their Spike Aware UK charity, that an equivalent law should be introduced in Scotland. 'While completely respecting the devolution settlement, I am strongly of the view that there should be a common approach across the UK. 'It should not matter whether somebody is spiked in Glasgow, Manchester or Cardiff, the effect and the impact should be the same wherever people are, and the criminality should most certainly be the same.' Scottish Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur MSP said it can often be 'difficult and confusing' for victims to report spiking incidents. He said: 'It doesn't help that currently there are multiple laws which cover cases of spiking. 'The Scottish Government should explore whether creating a specific criminal offence would help potential victims come forward to report and help the police identify patterns of offending.' Charities say spiking is premeditated and far more common than understood, leaving victims traumatised and in some cases seriously harmed. Perpetrators secretly administer knock-out drugs to victims with some leading to sex offences, robbery or thefts, rendering victims disorientated with no memory of the event. There is also growing concern over the rise of 'spiking for fun', where victims are spiked in a sick game dubbed 'Take Them Down' purely for entertainment. Colin Mackie who, together with wife Mandy, launched charity Spike Aware UK following the tragic sudden death of their 18-year-old son Greg in a spiking incident, said the data masked the true scale of the problem in Scotland. He said most offences were going unreported due to embarrassment or fear of not being believed. Mr Mackie also called on the Scottish Government to make spiking a specific criminal offence for the first time. He said: 'Police Scotland's data is only the tip of the iceberg as the majority of spiking attacks go unreported. 'This is usually because victims have been drinking alcohol and are fearful of not being believed and accused of drinking too much. 'Many of the victims cannot actually recall the detail of what happened to them due to the effects on their memory.' Mr Mackie added: 'There are increasing incidents of victims being targeted for spiking for the sake of it or for fun with no theft or assault taking place. 'A lot of perpetrators are doing it because they think it's something funny to do and that they won't face any repercussions.' Data shows Glasgow and Edinburgh had the highest number of spiking reports with 240 and 168 respectively, with the lowest numbers coming from Argyll and West Dunbartonshire at 12 and Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway at 13. Police Scotland say they continue to investigate reports of 'spiking' and warn adding drugs or alcohol to someone's drink, or by injection, without their consent 'is a criminal offence'. A spokesperson said: 'Every report is taken seriously and investigated robustly. 'We are working in communities, with licensees, pubs and clubs, to provide advice and support and to offer bystander training to help spot the signs of when someone may be at risk. 'We would encourage anyone who believes they have had their drink spiked or who has been assaulted in this way to contact Police Scotland.' The Scottish Government said there were 'comprehensive laws in place that allow Police Scotland to effectively tackle perpetrators of this crime'. A spokesperson said they were aware of the provisions within the UK Crime and Policing Bill which were 'specific to England and Wales'. They added: 'We will continue to engage with Spike Aware UK, the Home Office and other stakeholders through our roundtable on spiking to assess the need for a similar approach in Scotland.' Photo by Marcus Herzberg on Like this: Like Related
