THE SNP has called the 1000 UK civil service jobs being relocated to Scotland in the coming years a “drop in the ocean”.

SNP MSP George Adam said 7000 civil service jobs in Scotland have been axed by the Tories since 2010.

UK ministers announced that well as the Cabinet Office headquarters in Glasgow, more than 500 Foreign Office jobs will move to the department’s existing base in East Kilbride.
SNP MSP George Adam said: “Since 2010 the Tories have axed 7000 civil service jobs in Scotland.

“In a period of Westminster austerity, the UK government chose to disproportionately slash jobs north of the Border – today’s announcement is a drop in the ocean against the backdrop of these widescale cuts.

“The Tories know that if people vote SNP in May then a fresh referendum is coming – they wouldn’t be spending so much time relocating Whitehall staff to Scotland if they didn’t.”

GMB Scotland secretary Gary Smith said the jobs and investment are welcome, but “won’t resolve the many deep-rooted problems that exist”.

He added: “It makes sense for the civil service to be spread out. You can’t level up a country if its jobs and wealth are concentrated in a few areas, and Glasgow and the west certainly need levelling up.”

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said the move will “co-locate the engine room of the UK Government in Scotland”.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the relocated jobs will ensure the civil service “represents all parts of the UK”.

The 500 additional roles will bring the Foreign Office’s staff in East Kilbride to 1500 by 2025.

The announcements come as the Scottish Conservatives hold their virtual spring conference ahead of the Holyrood elections in May.

Gove said the move is “bringing decision-makers closer to the communities they serve and ensuring closer collaboration between Scotland’s two governments”.