Johnson vows to protect the Union but not Scots funding
●SNP warns ditching Barnett formula would see ‘slaughter’ of public services
Boris Johnson’s declaration that he would be “Minster for the Union” if he becomes the next Tory leader and Prime Minister began to unravel yesterday when he refused to say whether he would protect the Barnett formula.
The Tory MP, who is battling with Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt to replace Theresa May, said he would do anything in his power to stop independence, including launching a new unit in Downing Street to “sense test and stress test every policy” for its impact on the Union.
But while Mr Hunt said he would retain the Barnett formula – the process that determines how much Scotland receives in public spending from Westminster – Mr Johnson failed to answer.
He came under further pressure when a spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said the formula “works for Scotland and works for the UK”, adding: “Any candidate must commit to it or set out a very detailed plan for an upgrade”.
The SNP accused Mr Johnson of “gimmicks” and said the Conservative government was “plotting” to use Brexit as an opportunity to impose
further cuts on the Scottish budget.
However, a source close to the Johnson campaign later said he had no plans to change the formula.
Writing in The Scotsman today, Douglas Ross, Conservative MP for Moray, said that Mr Johnson was “passionate” for Scotland to “grow and prosper” and that he understood “the political sensitivities” of the country.
Mr Johnson’s comments on the Union came before a hustings he is due to attend in Scotland this week, when his attitude to the Barnett formula will come under the spotlight, and as a Panelbase poll revealed that opposition to a second Scottish independence referendum in the near future was reducing. Polls have also suggested most Scots would vote to leave the UK if Mr Johnson became prime minister. He has a personal approval rating in Scotland of minus 37.
Mr Johnson has previously said the Barnett formula was “deeply inequitable” and was a “system of amazing political antiquity by which the English taxpayer sends about £20 billion every year to Scotland as a kind of present”.
He has also said that a pound spent in Croydon was worth more than a pound spent in Strathclyde in terms of economic generation, and that more jobs would be created in Scotland by investing in London, adding “if it causes Celtic wailing then I’m willing to go there and make the case that it’s right for them too”.
Yesterday the SNP demanded the Tories immediately rule out widescale funding cuts for public services in Scotland in the light of Mr Johnson’s failure to support the Barnett formula.
SNP MSP Tom Arthur said: “It is outrageous that the Tories are now plotting to use Brexit as an opportunity to railroad systematic cuts to Scotland’s budget – offering a grim insight into what Scotland can expect from the next Tory prime minister.
“The Tories have longed for the opportunity to hammer Scotland’s budget for years – but the people of Scotland won’t stand by while Westminster politicians plot to cut money from our vital public services to fund their disastrous no-deal Brexit.
“Yet again the mask has slipped and fatally undermined the Tories’ attempts to port ray themselves as working in Scotland’s best interests.”
He added: “Boris Johnson’s latest scheme to appoint the next Tory leader as Minister of the Union is simply laughable – voters will see this meaningless gimmick for what it is.”
However, a source close to mr Johnson’s campaign hit back, saying: “There’ll be no change to the Barnett formula if Boris wins the leadership of the Conservative and Unionist Party and becomes Prime Minister.
“For the SNP to suggest otherwise shows a hitherto unseen level of desperation and underlines just how much they would fear a Conservative and Unionist Party led by Boris.”
In his interveiw Mr Johnson insisted he was prepared to borrow to finance “great objectives” at the same time as cutting taxes if he succeeds Theresa May, stressing he would “keep fiscal responsibility”.
On proroguing Parliament to push through Brexit, Mr Johnson said he did not want to do it nor expected to – but kept the option on the table.
Yesterday Mr Hunt also said he would be prepared to pursue “with a heavy heart” a nodeal Brexit despite the risks to business and said some of his spending pledges would be delayed as a result, although he would push on with a cut to corporation tax.
Mr Hunt sought to maintain a tough-sounding approach to Brexit, including a warning he could refuse to pay part of Britain’s £39 billion exit bill to the EU if negotiations fail, while repeating that he believes he can secure a deal.
Mrs May criticised Mr Johnson’s “do-or-die” attitude to the Brexit deadline.