AN unelected Lord has demanded the UK Government take action against Holyrood to block spending on indyref2.
Lord George Foulkes, a former Labour Scotland Office minister, claimed it was illegal for the SNP to spend “UK taxpayers’ money” to plan for a second referendum and promote the case for independence.
He urged the Government’s Scotland Office minister in the Lords to use his “strong Scottish arm” and crack down on the Edinburgh administration, formed by two pro-Yes parties, to stop planning another referendum.
Lord Foulkes said: “Boris Johnson has ruled out a second referendum. The candidates for leadership of the Tory party have ruled out a second referendum.
“Even more important, Keir Starmer has ruled out a second referendum, so there ain’t gonna be a second referendum.
“Yet the Scottish Government are employing 20 civil servants and printing and producing party political propaganda using UK taxpayers’ money in their campaign to break up Britain.
“Nicola Sturgeon is taking the UK Government for fools.
“So will the minister take up his strong Scottish arm and say to the Prime Minister and, even more important in this context, the head of the civil service, to stop this illegality and start using the money that they get from British taxpayers on the services for which they are now responsible?”
READ MORE: BBC 'breaching own impartiality rules with focus on Conservatives' views'
While the minister, Lord Malcolm Offord, who has never held elected office, refused to commit to Foulkes’ suggestions, he slammed the SNP’s record in office and mocked the documents prepared recently to make the case for independence.
Drawing on the title of one, Offord said the SNP had failed to make Scotland “wealthier, fairer, or happier” during their 15 years in power.
He added: “Right-minded Scots would agree that using civil service resources to design a prospectus for independence was the wrong thing to be doing at this time”.
The UK Government has repeatedly declined to grant a Section 30 order to allow the transfer of powers from Westminster to Holyrood for a second referendum to be held.
Lord Foulkes previously revealed plans to introduce legislation to ban the Scottish Government from holding a second referendum.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel