The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Scots Tory MPs show support for controversial Ian Duncan appointment.
Government: Defeated candidate the ‘right man’ for new role as Scotland Office minister
A Scottish Conservative MP cannot think of “anyone better” to be Scotland Office minister than the MEP who will become a lord after losing his general election fight.
The Courier revealed yesterday that Ian Duncan, who missed out on election to the Commons by 21 votes, will be confirmed as Scottish Secretary David Mundell’s deputy in a move that has sparked fury among his political opponents.
But David Duguid, the new Banff and Buchan representative, denied anyone in the 12-strong group of new Tory MPs from north of the border was likely to feel snubbed by the appointment.
He said: “We have all discussed who might be working alongside David Mundell but I don’t think any of us, certainly our less experienced guys, were under any illusion it would be any of us.
“If it is the case that Ian Duncan is coming in, then I couldn’t think of anyone better.”
That view was backed by Aberdeen South MP Ross Thomson who said Mr Duncan “would make a fantastic member of the Government”.
The Courier revealed yesterday that Mr Duncan is to be installed in the House of Lords so he can be part of the UK Government despite not winning Perth and North Perthshire in the general election.
His expertise in fishing and energy are seen as major assets in the role, as is his experience of Brussels institutions and Holyrood having served as an MEP and as head of the Scottish Parliament’s European Office for seven years.
Asked about the revelations yesterday, Mr Duncan said: “I certainly can confirm there are a lot of discussions going on right now and I hope in the next few days to be able to confirm the outcome of those discussions.”
Pressed whether it was right for him to “leapfrog” Tory candidates who won their seats, he said: “I would look upon this as a measure of experience and trying to make sure that the best experience is available to the Government.”
Pete Wishart, the SNP MP for Perth and North Perthshire, said: “That anyone can be rejected by the electorate and then just days later find themselves in a powerful government role is fundamentally undemocratic and should not be allowed in a modern society.”
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale added: “Ian Duncan was rejected by the people of Perth and North Perthshire just days ago. Now it seems he will sit in parliament anyway thanks to a Tory stitch-up.”
Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “Theresa May obviously doesn’t have a lot of faith in the talents of her newly elected Scottish MPs if she is so keen to pass them over.”
The revelation that Ian Duncan MEP will take a place in the Scotland Office via a seat in the House of Lords was met with predictable outrage by opponents. Mr Duncan – Lord Duncan of Springbank, as he will become – was the narrowly defeated opponent of Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart in the recent general election.
Why then, claim those against his forthcoming appointment, should he have a seat at the top Scottish table when he has been rejected by the electorate?
If it is just a question of who performed at the ballot box, they have a point.
However, Mr Duncan performed well in a particularly bruising campaign and Mr Wishart won by only 21 votes. His majority had previously been more than 9,500.
Had the swing been 11 votes the other way, his appointment as David Mundell’s deputy would not have been questioned – it may even have been welcomed.
His knowledge of Europe, especially, far outweighs that of elected colleagues and could prove vital as the Government seeks to extricate the country from the EU.
It may be that the noses of 12 elected Scottish Conservatives are out of joint but that matters little when getting the right people for the job of government – if they prove themselves, they will also eventually rise to the top.
Mr Duncan’s elevation may have the whiff of a fix but if the right man is in the job, should that matter?