MINISTERS are ignoring requests for meetings with SNP MPs – while giving access to Scots Tories MPs in order to make them appear more effective, it has been claimed.
SNP MP Pete Wishart says the UK Government has “dangerously politicised” access to ministers for narrow party political advantage.
While Scots Tory MPs are regularly pictured with ministers in an attempt to make it look as though they are working on behalf of their constituents, Wishart says his repeated requests to meet with ministers are refused – with most not even responding although one told him he could see her in the Commons tearoom.
“In trying to give these Scottish Conservatives this ‘leg up’ the UK Government has dangerously politicised access to ministers for narrow party political advantage,” said Wishart.
“There isn’t even an attempt to hide this co-ordinated and crude attempt to give this advantage and it is something that goes against every principle of the Ministerial Code.
“Access to ministers must be something that is afforded to all Members of Parliament. We are all elected to serve the people of this country and every constituent should be afforded the same rights from ministers through their democratically elected MP. To politicise access for party political advantage is simply unacceptable and anti-democratic.”
Wishart said the politicisation of access was hindering the work required to resolve and deal with pressing issues across his constituency.
“For example, I alongside my Dundee colleagues, recently wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury asking for a meeting to discuss the delays in the Tay Cities Deal, a meeting that was refused,” said Wishart.
“I have since seen a social media contribution from a Tory MP, who has one Tay Cities Deal project in his constituency, sitting down with the Chief Secretary where he boasts he is discussing his project with her.”
Wishart also complained that last week Scots Tory MP Kirstene Hair was pictured with Home Secretary Sajid Javid with a caption from her saying she was discussing a seasonal agricultural workers scheme. “The next day a pilot scheme was announced in an obvious attempt to try and credit her with its introduction,” said Wishart. “This is despite me writing to the Home Secretary to meet several weeks ago and also chairing an all-party Select Committee which recommended a scheme’s introduction. The hastily arranged effort to try and credit a single Conservative MP managed to disappoint everybody in the sector with the Government announcing a scheme providing a paltry 2500 workers of the 64,000 that they themselves say is required.”
He added although he had asked for a meeting with Disabilities Minister Sarah Newton he wasn’t informed when she visited a job centre in his constituency, with the visit hosted by a Scottish Tory MP.
The Cabinet said: “All requests by MPs to discuss matters of policy with Ministers are considered on an equal and fair basis by Departments and are accommodated wherever possible.”
“The simple fact is that they have no influence on a Government that is tightly controlled from the centre and riven by its own contradictions and tensions,” said Wishart. “The only role required from the Scottish Conservatives MPs is to enquire ‘how high’ when asked to jump on behalf of their Government.”
The Cabinet Office were approached for comment.
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