‘Grasp the thistle’ and rein in Scottish Government spending, Labour peer urges UK ministers

A Labour peer has urged the UK Government to “grasp the thistle” and rein in Scottish Government spending on areas outwith its responsibilities.

Lord George Foulkes said ministers must “stop this abuse of taxpayers’ money”.

He has previously raised concerns about Scottish Government spending in areas that are reserved, including on international projects and the series of independence papers being rolled out by Scottish ministers.

The UK Government is currently considering whether guidance for civil servants working in Scotland would be necessary.

Speaking in the House of Lords, Foulkes said: “There’s fury all over Scotland at the Scottish Government spending money outwith its responsibilities, particularly on vanity projects and jaunts overseas, while services at home for which they are responsible are being cut again and again.”

He added: “I’ve had minister after minster – including this current one – say that they are sympathetic to the point I’m raising.

“But when is someone going to grasp the nettle – well, I suppose grasp the thistle is more appropriate – and take some real action?”

Baroness Lucy Neville-Rolfe, a Cabinet Office minister, confirmed discussions at official-level have been ongoing, but refused to comment on Scottish Government spending.

She confirmed ministers would provide on update on the matter in the coming months.

Baroness Annabel Goldie, a former Scottish Tory leader, raised concerns about the mounting costs of abandoned initiatives. She said: “There has to be concern about the cost to the Scottish taxpayers of the Scottish Government taking a court action unsuccessfully to hold an independence referendum, taking a court action unsuccessfully to progress the Gender Recognition Reform Bill, and – after a vast amount of work – putting on ice unworkable plans for a deposit return scheme.

“Does my noble friend the minister have any idea about the cost of these endeavours?”

Under Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish Government took a case to the Supreme Court to test whether the Scottish Parliament could unilaterally legislate for an independence referendum. Judges ruled any referendum would require UK Government approval.

The Gender Recognition Reform Bill was blocked by Scottish secretary Alister Jack via a section 35 order over concerns it impacted on the Equalities Act, a reserved piece of legislation. A challenge in the courts ruled in Jack’s favour.

Plans for a deposit return scheme were scuppered after an exemption to the UK Internal Market Act to allow the scheme to go ahead did not include glass.

Neville-Rolfe said she had “no idea” about the cost of these plans but added Scottish taxpayers would be reflecting on “whether they are a good use of funds”.