TORIES “GRUBBY BREXIT BUNG” FOR DUP AHEAD OF CRUCIAL VOTES

The Scottish National Party (SNP) has urged the Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell to ensure that Scotland receives a comparable share of a budget increase being given to Northern Ireland ahead of crucial Brexit votes.

It has been revealed that the Tory UK government will give Northern Ireland an extra £140 million on top of their budget. This will not be subject to Barnett consequentials – which would have ensured Scotland’s block grant was adjusted upwards to take into account this additional funding.

The news has broken just days before the Prime Minister brings her Brexit deal back to the Commons after a humiliating historic defeat in January.

The Prime Minister was widely criticised in 2017 for a £1,000 million ‘cash for votes’ deal agreed with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to secure a confidence-and-supply agreement when the Tories failed to retain a majority of MPs at the 2017 General Election.

Commenting, Patricia Gibson MP said:

“The Tories are delivering another bung for the DUP.

“If Treasury rules were applied as they should be, then Scotland’s fair share would amount to an extra £400 million for public services here.

“Scottish Secretary David Mundell MP has not fought Scotland’s corner throughout the Brexit process.

“Did he know about the extra cash promised to Northern Ireland beforehand and did he agree to it? What will he now do to ensure Scotland gets similar treatment?

“If nothing, then it is further proof – if it were needed – that he is utterly unfit to stand up for Scotland as he is supposed to do.

“This extra cash for Northern Ireland comes just before the Prime Minister brings her Brexit deal back to Westminster, where every MP’s vote will count.

“It is crystal clear that the Tories are delivering a grubby Brexit bung to buy off DUP votes whilst Scotland's voice in the Brexit process is ignored.”