Former 'poll tax' spad given peerage and Scotland Office role

Prime Minister David Cameron has given a peerage to his former special advisor on Scotland, Andrew Dunlop.

Dunlop helped Cameron with strategy during the independence campaign, and is known for advising Margaret Thatcher on tax and policy for Scotland in 1998, a year before the controversial Poll Tax was introduced. He did work on the establishment of Scottish Enterprise

He has now been given a seat in the Lords so he can become Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland, working under Scotland’s only Conservative MP David Mundell, who was appointed Secretary of State for Scotland on Monday.

The SNP have reacted angrily to the appointment, accusing Dunlop of being instrumental in the introduction of the Poll Tax

The Scottish Conservatives have denied Dunlop was involved in the tax, which saw mass protests in Scotland in 1989. 

A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said:

“We wholeheartedly welcome Andrew Dunlop’s appointment to the Scotland Office. He played a pivotal role during the referendum campaign, winning plaudits across the political spectrum.

“In the last few years, he has developed good relations with Scotland’s key business and civic figures, helping to secure significant achievements such as the City Deal in Glasgow. It is great news for all those who genuinely want Scotland’s two governments to work well together to drive forward our economic recovery.”

Other new Government peers include Francis Maude, who will be Trade Minister, Ros Altman, who will be Pensions Minister, George Bridges, who will work in the Cabinet Office, Jim O’Neill, Commercial Secretary to the Treasury and David Prior who will become Health Minister