Mundell ducks questions over deal with DUP
DAVID Mundell yesterday dodged calls to explain his stance on the UK Government’s £1billion DUP deal.
SNP MP Pete Wishart highlighted remarks from the Scottish Secretary before the deal was made, in which he said he would not agree to “back door funding for Northern Ireland” which meant the other devolved nations missing out.
Extra money offered to Northern Ireland helped Theresa May secure the support of the DUP’s 10 MPs to help prop up her minority administration.
Speaking in the Commons, Wishart said: “The Secretary of State could not be more clear, ‘I’m not going to agree to anything that could be construed as back door funding to Northern Ireland.’
“This isn’t just back door, this is locked away in secure accommodation.”
Wishart challenged Mundell to explain what representations he made to May and if he offered “any objections on behalf of Scotland”.
Mundell did not respond to the question, instead telling Wishart: “On June 8, the people of Scotland delivered their verdict on which party in this House stands up for Scotland and Scotland’s financial arrangements.
“The Scottish Conservatives got 12 additional MPs, Scottish National Party 21 less.”
Meanwhile, May said she could “completely understand” people’s concerns about the DUP’s opposition to gay rights.
She stressed that she did not agree with the Northern Irish party’s refusal to back gay marriage.
And she insisted the Conservatives had not gone backwards by signing the DUP pact.
She added: “We will continue to push forwards, to enhance LGBT rights and we are pleased with what we have been able to do so far and want to do more.
“That won’t be changed by our relationship with the DUP, which of course isn’t a formal coalition.”