PM Boris will expose the SNP’s failings

BORIS Johnson has hit the ground running since entering Downing Street, with a blizzard of policy announcements – which were slightly overshadowed by his brutal cull of critics in his Cabinet.

To the surprise of no one, Nicola Sturgeon has been trying to claim that his premiership will provide a new boost to her prospects of holding an independence referendum.

Yet she has chosen to ignore the fact that he has unveiled a series of populist pledges which appeal to voters: more police officers, solving the social care crisis, tackling GP waiting times, new road and rail infrastructure.

The problem for Scots is that these policies will not apply north of the Border, since they are all issues which are devolved to Holyrood. They will, however, result in a windfall for the Scottish Government because of the Barnett Formula funding arrangement, which provides a boost to the Scottish budget if spending takes place in England.

The promise to boost police numbers in England by 20,000 between now and 2022 will result in a £100million-plus annual windfall for the Scottish Government. Yet the SNP was yesterday noticeably reluctant to provide any promise it will match this policy and provide a boost to the financially stricken Police Scotland. Does it not believe an extra 2,000 bobbies on the beat would be welcomed by the Scottish public?

The truth is, the SNP is failing Scotland’s public services. School standards are in decline, hospital waiting times are getting worse and the economy remains subdued.

Perhaps Boris Johnson’s bold and ambitious policies will present a bigger problem for Miss Sturgeon than she has realised. As former SNP adviser Alex Bell rightly pointed out yesterday, her Government looks increasingly tired and those around her lack the intellect to come up with new ideas.

If the SNP fails to act despite receiving substantial funding as a consequence of Mr Johnson’s spending in England, the Prime Minister will surely not miss the opportunity to make clear to Scots that the SNP is to blame for them missing out.

If he is bold and imaginative, he should also use next week’s visit to Scotland to unveil specific UK Government spending plans north of the Border. He should have the confidence to invest in infrastructure – then make it clear to voters that they have the Conservative Government to thank, not the SNP. This could serve to strengthen the Union and hammer home the message that Scots benefit from cross-Border ties and the investment of the UK Government.

Miss Sturgeon has been rubbing her hands with glee at the prospect of Mr Johnson entering Downing Street for months – but she should be careful. She might build him up as the Tory bogeyman, but he could help expose the SNP’s failings and inaction and prove more popular in Scotland than she ever expected.

DURING his first hours in Downing Street, Mr Johnson has made very encouraging noises about fixing the social care scandal. This is welcome. It is disgraceful that vulnerable people have to spend their savings or sell their homes to pay care bills because they have the misfortune to suffer dementia. But every prime minister for two decades has promised action. Then, shamefully, not acted. Rest assured, if Mr Johnson wavers on righting this terrible unfairness, the Mail will not hesitate to hold his feet to the fire.

BEYOND Brexit and social care, Mr Johnson has a long to-do list: Policing, schools funding and Iran to name but a few pressing problems. To those, could he add delivering justice for the victims of the blood contamination scandal of the 1970s and 1980s, in which at least 3,000 have died of Aids and hepatitis? Survivors of the tainted NHS transfusions, and bereaved families, have now written to him demanding proper compensation. Many live in penury, hand to mouth. They were harmed by the state. They should not be abandoned.