‘Independence’ raised in first talk with Rishi … that didn’t take long

RISHI Sunak agreed to work with John Swinney to improve Scotland’s ailing economy during their first talks.

The Prime Minister congratulated the veteran Nationalist on his appointment as First Minister during a telephone conversation yesterday afternoon.

They discussed the importance of working together on ‘shared priorities’ such as growing the nation’s economy and delivering for people across Scotland and the United Kingdom.

Mr Sunak also reflected on recent positive collaboration between the UK and Scottish governments on issues such as freeports and creating a smoke-free generation across the UK.

The meeting was said to have been ‘very cordial’ and the Prime Minister said he looked forward to working together and meeting the First Minister in person.

Mr Swinney pledged to eradicate child poverty and urged Mr Sunak to reconsider the twochild benefit cap.

But the First Minister also caused exasperation by raising the issue of independence.

Mr Sunak is said to have stressed the need to work together on shared priorities such as the economy rather than discussing the constitution.

A Tory source said Mr Swinney had discussed independence in one breath and poverty in the other, adding: ‘Perhaps the obsession with the former is restricting their efforts on the latter.’

Mr Sunak has regularly raised concerns about the SNP’s decision to make Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK.

He has focused on efforts to boost the economy across the UK – and criticised the SNP’s decision to force up taxes for hardworking Scots.

Everyone earning more than £28,850 currently pays more income tax in Scotland than south of the Border.

The recent CBI Scottish Productivity Index found that Scotland lagged behind the UK on ten out of 13 economic indicators.

When Humza Yousaf was appointed First Minister last year, he demanded the right to hold another independence referendum in his first talks with Mr Sunak – only for the Prime Minister to insist that the constitution should not distract from issues which are top of people’s priority list.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘The First Minister spoke with the Prime Minister this afternoon and confirmed that the Scottish Government stands ready to work constructively with the UK Government in a good-faith effort to deliver for the people of Scotland and reduce polarisation in politics.

‘The First Minister set out his determination to eradicate child poverty and urged the UK Government to work with him towards that goal by changing course on policies such as the two-child benefit cap which are causing misery for many families in Scotland.

‘Mr Swinney set out the need for a change in the UK Government’s economic policy and an end to austerity, to allow the Scottish economy to reach its full potential, support business, tackle the cost of living crisis and to allow for further investment to improve vital public services like the NHS and schools.

‘The First Minister made clear that the Scottish Government will continue to respectfully persuade people in Scotland of the case for independence, and that the decision on Scotland’s future should be for the people of Scotland to make.’

‘Eradicate child poverty’