No 10 says what Scots feel matters after Union Unit boss quits
Downing Street says all that matters is “what Scots feel” after the boss of Union Unit boss walked out just two weeks into the job.
Vote Leave veteran Oliver Lewis quit last week amid claims his position was made “untenable” by others in Number 10.
The former ally of Prime Minister Boris Johson had only just started the role following the exit of former Scottish Conservative MP Luke Graham earlier this month.
Asked yesterday what steps Mr Johnson was taking to ensure the smooth operation of the Union Unit, Downing Street press secretary Allegra Stratton insisted things were going well.
She said: “As I said that what matters is what's felt on the ground by the Scottish people and I think their Scottish people would say that they've seen support for their businesses, they've seen support whether they're self-employed or not and they've also brilliantly seen the vaccine rolled out around Scotland.”
Ms Stratton also dismissed the suggestion the Prime Minister’s attempts to ward off Scottish independence were in disarray, insisting it was “far from it”.
She continued: “What you've seen over the last few months of the pandemic is the Westminster Government and Scottish Government working very well together.
"You see it in where we find ourselves now. The road map will be set up by the PM later and it will be sort of hand in hand with Nicola Sturgeon's plans.
"But going back further you have the furlough and the support for Scottish businesses that the Westminster Government made sure was there, you have Test and Trace and the help that Highlands and Islands [gave] and most critically, most recently the making sure by the Westminster Government that the number of vaccines were there to be distributed around Scotland.
"So the relationship between the Westminster Government and Scotland and the Scottish people is working very well at the moment.”
Despite ousting former Ochil and South Perthshire MP Mr Graham – the last Scot left in the Union Unit – earlier this month, allies said there were still Scottish people involved in the group, including the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove.
Downing Street has previously declined to answer the question when asked if there were any Scottish people left working within the unit.
Meanwhile, allies of Mr Johnson dismissed "incorrect" claims that his fiancee Carrie Symonds is playing a leading role in the Government. Tory think tank The Bow Group has called for an independent inquiry into her influence in No 10 amid ongoing rumours about tensions at the heart of Government. The Bow Group said an inquiry should look at Ms Symonds' "possible influence" in government hiring and appointments.
It comes after two allies of Ms Symonds, Baroness Finn and Henry Newman, were appointed as key advisers in No 10.
Their rise followed the departure of former Vote Leave figures Dominic Cummings, Lee Cain and Mr Lewis.