NICOLA Sturgeon has hit out at Boris Johnson's government for recruiting staff for its Union Unit during the pandemic.
The First Minister said "it is a bit odd" that the Tory government set up the group in response to growing support for Scottish independence, despite the fact they say indyref2 won't happen.
At First Minister's Questions, SNP depute leader Keith Brown asked Sturgeon about a new job advert for the Cabinet Office cell that said knowledge of Scotland is merely “desirable”.
READ MORE: Ruth Wishart applies for a role on Michael Gove's Union unit
He said: "The First Minister will be aware that the Tory government at Westminster are advertising jobs in their Union Unit where knowledge of Scottish issues is only deemed desirable. Does the First Minister agree this unit is no more than a costly flag-waving exercise and an outrageous waste of taxpayers money?"
Sturgeon responded: "I suppose the UK Government asking for people where knowledge of Scotland is desirable you could say is a step in the right direction because there is no evidence they have insisted on that at any point in the past. Doesn't it say it all – recruiting people in a so-called Union Unit that I understand that they've said it's not essential to have knowledge of Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland perhaps might just sum up the Union pretty perfectly.
"The most interesting thing about this Union Unit, as far as I can see, if it was the Scottish Government of course, having an independence unit in this way we'd have howls of protests from the Conservatives. It's all this effort that has been put into fighting a referendum campaign that they say is never ever going to happen. It's a bit odd that."
READ MORE: The Union Unit has shown itself to be useless – but beware its dirty tricks
She went on: "What I'm saying to people is let's get through Covid. I am focusing on Covid right now and then post-pandemic let's have this debate properly and here's an idea: let's allow the people of Scotland to decide their own future."
It’s new job advert describes the unit as “a high-profile team at the very heart of Government” which aims to maintain “the integrity of the United Kingdom”. The roles are available in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.
The listing, posted on ziprecruiter.co.uk, adds: “The Union Directorate is a small, focused team of policy professionals, analysts, comms experts and external secondees with a focus on making the benefits of the Union clear, visible and understood.
“The Union Directorate is responsible for the overall Union strategy, as well as driving delivery across Whitehall and beyond.”
The ad then lists the responsibilities expected to be undertaken by successful candidates, including demonstrating “good political judgment, curiosity and independence of thought”.
At the bottom of that section, the ad states: “Desirable: have understanding of policy issues relevant to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.”
That line is symptomatic of arrogance on Downing Street, according to the SNP.
Brown said the Union Unit is “clueless” and was “doomed to fail”.
He added: "It reeks of Westminster arrogance that the Tories are willing to hire a senior staff member who lacks a basic understanding of ‘issues relevant to Scotland’."
Last month, Gove’s anti-independence cell came under fire after it emerged the Tory minister had been comparing notes with Gordon Brown on how to save the Union.
And just last week, Boris Johnson’s pro-Union committee was thrown into chaos after its only Scottish member was sacked.
READ MORE: Only Scot on Boris Johnson's Union Unit is sacked over indyref2 dispute
Luke Graham, the former MP for Ochil and South Perthshire from 2017 to 2019, was relieved of his duties after a “brutal” row upon the Prime Minister’s return from his highly criticised trip to Scotland.
Johnson has repeatedly insisted that Scots don't want a fresh vote on independence, despite 20 polls in a row recording a majority for Yes.
The SNP recently set out their roadmap to a second independence referendum.
It states another vote could be held if a pro-Yes majority is returned to Holyrood in May, regardless of whether a Section 30 order is granted by Westminster. The document explains it would then be for the UK Government to decide if it wanted to try and stop it through the courts.
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