MICHAEL Gove has been accused of “making up numbers” after he claimed that as many as 40 per cent of SNP voters back Brexit.
The Cabinet Office Minister was answering a question from the SNP MP Ronnie Cowan at the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee.
Cowan, who represents Inverclyde, told Gove that the people of Scotland voted to remain in the EU, so “surely their voice has to be listened to?”
Gove replied: “Scottish electors do have a say in the outcome, because they send superb Members of Parliament such as yourself to Westminster. The point I make is that one can't pick and choose referenda results.
“The people of Scotland had a referendum in which they voted to stay in the United Kingdom, the people of the United Kingdom had a referendum in which they voted to leave the European Union.”
Cowan asked if Gove was saying that the 62% of Scots who voted to remain was “superseded by the majority in England who voted otherwise”.
Gove answered: “I think it is the case that between a third and 40 per cent of SNP voters voted to leave the European Union.”
“How do you know that?” Cowan asked twice, in apparent disbelief.
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“Well, I think it is the case on the basis of looking at where votes were cast, but let's say it's only 20%... Let's assume that for a moment,” Gove said, before Cowan pointed out that he was “still making up the numbers here”.
The Cabinet Office minister went on: “How many SNP MPs in Westminster reflect that view, how many SNP MSPs reflect that view?
“The admirable Alex Neil reflects that view, great man that he is. So if we're talking about effective representation, then what about all those SNP voters who voted to leave? Who is speaking for them beyond Alex Neil and I think Jim Sillars?
“If we're going to talk about percentages then, you know, that's that seems to me to be a legitimate question as well.”
It was at this point that the committee chair cut in to end the exchange before Cowan could respond.
Gove had previously told Cowan that the UK Government would implement the Internal Market Bill with or without the consent of the devolved administrations.
When Cowan said this meant Westminster would be acting “regardless” of the wishes of the people of Scotland, Gove replied that they would actually be giving the people “great regard”.
Earlier in the meeting, Gove told Cowan there was a “zero chance” of him becoming prime minister in the near future. He added that the SNP MP would agree with him that that was a good thing.
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