Latest news with #ScotlandQuestions
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.
The Herald Scotland
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Mundell: SNP is depriving pro-Union areas of funding
In March, Dumfries and Galloway councillors were forced to find £30 million in savings over three years, blaming what they described as an 'unprecedented funding gap' from the Scottish Government. READ MORE Meanwhile, NHS Dumfries and Galloway is currently trying to find more than £23m in savings. It has even cut down on lawn mowing across its entire estate as part of a 'wider effort to prioritise and protect patient care'. However, the challenges are not confined to the south of Scotland. A recent report by the Accounts Commission found that Scotland's councils are facing a near £1 billion budget gap over the next two years. The watchdog said for this year, the gap between the country's 32 local authorities stands at £647m – up £52m from 2024–25. This comes despite councils receiving £15.2bn from the Scottish Government in the 2025–26 budget – a real-terms increase of 6%. The report on local government budgets highlighted the 'recurring pressures' authorities face, from inflation, annual staff pay deals and the growing demand for services. One of the biggest impacts is the hike in employers' national insurance contributions brought in by the Chancellor at last year's budget. Cosla say this could cost £370m a year – more than double the £144m provided by the Scottish Government towards the rise. READ MORE Speaking during Scotland Questions, Mr Mundell 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?' Scottish Secretary Ian Murray responded by accusing the SNP of neglecting the entire country. 'The whole of Scotland voted against independence in 2014,' he said. '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
23-04-2025
- Health
- The National
Labour minister dodges question on party's links to private healthcare
SNP MP Seamus Logan asked about Labour's connections with for-profit health companies, highlighting an investigation showing that the Health Secretary had taken £372,000 from such firms over the last decade. The Good Law project has calculated that Wes Streeting has taken £58,000 people and companies linked with private healthcare companies since entering Government last July. READ MORE: 'Important milestone' as SNP launch new disability benefit across Scotland Speaking at Scotland Questions in the Commons on Wednesday morning, Logan said: 'With cuts to public services coming down the line, is the Secretary of State or the minister worried about the influence of private health donors on his Cabinet colleagues?' Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill replied: '[He] says there have been cuts to public services. 'Let me put on record once again: this Labour Government pledged to end austerity and we have, with a record settlement for Scotland's public services, money that has been squandered by the SNP Government such that we are still in a situation where nearly one in six Scots are on a waiting list, whereas south of the Border, waiting lists have fallen for the fifth month in a row. READ MORE: Israeli police officers aimed guns at two British MPs in West Bank 'That's the difference a Labour Government with a plan and willingness to fund it makes.' Speaking after the publication of the Good Law Project's latest probe into Streeting's links with private healthcare, executive director Jo Maugham said: 'Those backers are not stupid and this is not a remarkable coincidence. What do those backers think they are getting for their money? It's our NHS and we have a right to know.'
