BORIS Johnson is asking his new Scottish Scotland Office minister to work for free, while giving his English counterpart an extra £25k a year.
Despite Colin Clark, the MP for Gordon, and Robin Walker, the MP for Worcester both being appointed as under-secretaries of state, only the Englishman is getting a boost in his monthly paypacket.
The Gordon MP, who was also made a whip, is effectively working as a volunteer.
It’s yet another snub to the Scottish Tories by the Prime Minister. Walker, the first English MP to be appointed to the Scotland Office since 1886, was picked by Johnson over 11 Scottish Tory MPs.
Johnson also ignored pleas from Scottish party chief Ruth Davidson to keep David Mundell in place as Scots Secretary. He replaced the veteran MP with rookie Alister Jack.
A Scottish Tory source told The Times: “It is an act of self-harm to allow this narrative.”
Generally, MPs who become under-secretaries of state are entitled to £24,477 in addition to their House of Commons salary.
However, the number of paid ministerial posts is capped by law at 109.
After last week’s reshuffle, the government has 115 ministers.
Previously the Scotland Office had one under-secretary of state, Lord Duncan of Springbank, be he has been moved to the business department.
An SNP spokesman said: “For all his sucking up to the new Tory leader, Colin Clark’s recent promotion is in name only.
"Everyone already knew the MP for Gordon was useless, but apparently Boris Johnson thinks he’s worthless.
“The appointment of the MP for Worcester as a paid minister in the Scotland Office is the ultimate snub to Ruth Davidson and her MPs.”
The Gordon MP did not comment when contacted by the Times.
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