KATE Forbes has said plans by Boris Johnson to bypass Holyrood and spend billions of pounds directly in devolved areas - including health - shows the Tories are in "panic mode" over the Union.

The Finance Secretary hit out after it was reported that UK ministers are preparing to offer help to clear Scotland’s cancer backlog and invest funds in infrastructure projects as part of a renewed drive to save the Union.

Johnson is to use a summit with the leaders of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments to suggest injecting money directly into areas that need particular attention as the country emerges from the pandemic — even if it means encroaching on devolved responsibilities, according to reports.

Commenting on reports in today’s Times, Forbes said that if there is more funding to be made available for spending in Scotland, then it should be provided to the Scottish Government through the usual channels agreed in the devolved settlement.

"It is unsurprising that the Tories are in panic mode in response to last week’s emphatic SNP election victory, but they need to realise that ‘working together’ involves doing things with Scotland – not doing things to Scotland," she said.

"The SNP won the election on the back of a clear plan to lead Scotland through the Covid crisis and into a recovery, including a full-scale remobilisation of the NHS.

"If there is funding available to support the SNP Government’s recovery plans on devolved areas such as health and infrastructure, then it should come to Scotland through the established channels – to try and circumvent this process in response to an SNP landslide is frankly bizarre and rides roughshod over the devolved settlement Scotland voted for."

She added that the co-operation over infrastructure programmes was welcome, but was sceptical of "vanity projects" such as a bridge connecting Scotland and Northern Ireland.

“Of course if the Tories finally want to deliver on their end of the bargain on infrastructure projects like delivering High Speed Rail on the East Coast, projects which require them to take action in the rest of the UK, then we would welcome them getting on with their job," she said.

“Far from increased investment, people in Scotland know that the reality of Tory rule over Scotland has been a decade of austerity and increasing threats to cut even more from public spending, and increasing attempts to muscle in on devolved spending areas with vanity projects like a Boris Bridge.

“Last week’s election result means there is a new reality in Scottish politics, and the longer it takes the Tories to realise that, the more they make the case for all decisions about Scotland being taken in Scotland.”

The First Minister has stepped up demands for a second independence referendum after the SNP returned a fourth successive victory in the Holyrood elections.

In a phone call with the prime minister, she said that it was a “matter of when not if” another independence vote takes place.

It was reported that the UK government plans to adopt a “show, not tell” approach to its spending over the coming months as part of efforts to highlight its case against independence.

Sources said that it was hoped that this would hold off the prospect of a second referendum — but would also put the case for the Union on a stronger footing if such a campaign and vote were to take place.

Johnson has said that the summit, which he wants to take place as soon as possible, would allow “Team UK” to “discuss our shared challenges”.

Clearing the backlog of cancer treatment has been identified as a challenge for Scotland’s NHS during the recovery from the pandemic and the Times said it is understood that Whitehall is willing to invest directly in the health service, which is controlled by Holyrood, to help alleviate the issue.

Consideration is also being given to financing the upgrade of major transport networks and stepping in to set up freeports with special tax status in the likes of Aberdeen and Inverness, which have expressed an interest in the schemes, if an agreement cannot be reached with Scottish ministers.

No fixed decisions have been taken about investment. They will be driven by demand either from the Scottish Government or from individual councils.

The UK Internal Market Bill allows UK ministers to invest directly in devolved areas. “That’s the direction of travel that is something the government is keen to do,” said a Whitehall source.

Another source said that a shift in tone towards the Scottish Government showed that Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, had “won” the battle for strategy over the Union.

“That sort of collaborative approach is so much harder to turn down,” they said.

Internal research for Downing Street has found that Scottish voters are not keen on any immediate focus on another referendum but are angered more by the idea that the choice could be denied by the UK government.

The SNP made a commitment in its Holyrood election manifesto to hold a second independence referendum in the next parliamentary term and once the Covid crisis has passed.

The First Minister has said she wants a new vote by the end of 2023 so long as the pandemic is over.

About 500 new jobs are expected to be created over the coming four years as part of the new Cabinet Office headquarters in Glasgow and it is understood that ministers will regularly work from there and from new offices in central Edinburgh to have a stronger presence in Scotland.