BORIS Johnson has been accused of being “asleep at the wheel” after failing to appoint a new devolution minister before jetting off on holiday to Marbella.
In his reshuffle last month, the Prime Minister moved constitution and devolution minister Chloe Smith to the Department of Work and Pensions, leaving the position empty.
It’s now nearly a month since an announcement was made at the Cabinet Office.
Kirsten Oswald (below), the SNP’s deputy Westminster leader, said despite Johnson branding himself Minister for the Union “it’s clear now that he has either forgotten that devolution exists or has confirmed it’s not a priority”.
“Successive Westminster governments have made it clear that Scotland is not a priority – or indeed a consideration – in the corridors of Whitehall.”
Scottish Conservative sources also told The Herald that the PM’s “embarrassing” actions are “not helping” their electoral chances, while Labour peer George Foulkes described the oversight as “appalling" and a "gift to the SNP".
It comes after it was announced that Tory donor Malcolm Offord would be made a life peer in the House of Lords in order to take over from MP David Duguid in the Scotland Office.
The 57-year-old failed to become an MSP during this year’s Scottish Parliament election, but has given a total of £147,500 to the Tories.
A spokeswoman for the UK Government defended Johnson’s failure to appoint a new constitution minister, saying: "The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP retains ministerial responsibility for the Union, Devolution and elections within his new role as Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
"Ministers and officials at all levels of government continue to work closely with the devolved administrations to give power to people and places across the UK, empowering our regions by devolving money, resources and control away from Westminster."
Johnson is under fire for his holiday today, coming as the UK faces a cost of living crisis and spiralling gas prices.
Industry leaders have criticised Johnson for the holiday, while Labour have called on the UK Government to get a “grip” on the “chaotic” crisis.
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