Boris’s tunnel vision wins backing from Scottish businesses

RADICAL plans to consider a ‘Union tunnel’ between Scotland and Northern Ireland have been backed by business leaders.

A range of industry leaders yesterday gave their support to UK Government plans to launch a feasibility study into an underwater crossing.

But they said the study must demonstrate a clear economic case for the tunnel before Boris Johnson presses ahead with a massive infrastructure project that could cost more than £20billion.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said on Thursday that he backed a tunnel between Portpatrick, Wigtownshire, and Larne, Co Antrim, and said Mr Johnson is on ‘exactly the same page’.

Downing Street is expected to launch a full ‘feasibility study’ looking at costs, timescales and other practical issues – and Mr Jack claims it could be completed by 2030. Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: ‘The Scottish chamber network welcomes investment in infrastructure that delivers for the economy and people of Scotland.’

Malcolm Cannon, national director of the Institute of Directors in Scotland, said: ‘Given the very political conversations taking place around any connections between the two countries, it is imperative the most thorough of investigations takes place into its viability, benefits and ultimately impact on local infrastructure on both sides.’

David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium,

which represents shops and supermarkets, said: ‘We’re open to learning more about how such a substantial investment might unlock economic potential and speed up supply chains, and how it would sit alongside the many other

Yesterday’s Daily Mail competing infrastructure priorities that Scotland has.’

Any decision to press ahead with a tunnel would require major investment on the A77 linking Glasgow and Portpatrick and the A75 between Gretna and Portpatrick. However, road infrastructure is devolved to the Scottish parliament and the SNP is opposed to spending huge sums on a tunnel rather than other infrastructure.

If no deal can be struck, the UK Government could introduce legislation to allow it to invest in a roads upgrade in Scotland, although it would likely face an SNP backlash for seeking to override devolution.

Last night, SNP Transport Secretary Michael Matheson wrote to his UK counterpart Grant Shapps. He said: ‘We understand that consideration is now being given to a tunnel between Northern Ireland and Scotland instead of a bridge.

‘You will recall, having previously written to you, that we believe this money would be better spent on delivering the vital infrastructure investment our communities need in Scotland and Northern Ireland.’