BORIS Johnson took questions from the SNP’s deputy Westminster leader during this afternoon’s PMQs, as Ian Blackford was hit by a power outage on the Isle of Skye.
The party’s Westminster leader could not put a virtual question to the Prime Minister as he would usually do as the cut meant he lost internet connection.
High winds have lead to thousands of properties across Skye, and North and South Uist, being left without power.
Winds reached speeds of more than 70mph over the Western Isles and west Highlands last night, with the Met Office issuing a yellow warning.
SSEN says electricity supplies have been restored to 13,000 customers with the remaining 3000 properties to be reconnected today.
In the Commons as Speaker Lindsay Hoyle announced Blackford would not be speaking due to the outage, MPs howled with laugher and heckles.
Kirsten Oswald, the deputy Westminster leader, instead stepped in to ask about the loss of the Erasmus scheme and the Turing project replacement.
Oswald asked why the UK Government is “taking opportunities away” from young people.
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She told the Commons: “Yesterday, the Prime Minister published his plans for an Erasmus replacement without any consultation or discussion with devolved governments. The replacement scheme offers lower living support, no travel support, no tuition fee support.
“Why is this Tory Government taking opportunities away from our young people?”
Boris Johnson responded: “Well, she is … delightfully concise question I may say, but she is wrong about the difference between the Erasmus and the Turing project because the Turing scheme unlike the Erasmus scheme which overwhelmingly went to kids from better-off homes, the Turing project is designed to help kids across the country of all income groups get to fantastic universities around the world.”
Oswald replied: "Mr Speaker, that’s just not the case.
"We know we can’t trust a word the Prime Minister says on this. He told us there’s no threat to the Erasmus scheme but he clearly won’t match EU levels of support. And it’s not just us saying it. His own Scottish colleague told the BBC last week young people won’t benefit from Brexit.
READ MORE: Tory MP Andrew Bowie makes stunning admission about Brexit's impact on young people
"They’ve saddled a generation with tuition fee debt, now they’re closing the door with Erasmus, it’s no wonder that students are choosing the SNP and independence for a prosperous future.
"So Prime Minister will you think again, will you do the right thing? Engage with our EU friends and rejoin Erasmus?
Hoyle replied to remind Oswald not to use the word “you” in questions.
Johnson insisted students will choose to use the Turing scheme because it’s “fantastic”.
He continued: “I believe by the way Mr Speaker they should reject the SNP because it’s totally a Scottish nationalist party. It is failing the people of Scotland, failing to deliver on education, failing on crime and failing on the economy and I hope very much that the people of Scotland will go for common sense and instead of endlessly going on about constitutional issues, endlessly campaigning for a referendum which I think is the last thing the people of this country need right now, I think people want a government that focuses on the issues that matter to them – including a fantastic international education scheme like Turing."
Speaking to BBC Scotland's Debate Night last week, MP Andrew Bowie admitted young people would not reap the benefits of Brexit.
The MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine admitted Brexit is not perfect and could not tell the younger generations when they would see its perks.
He told a languages student concerned about his opportunities: “What I would say is we are introducing the Turing Scheme, we are hoping very much in the near future to allow students from this country to be able to study and enjoy life abroad.
READ MORE: Erasmus: EU chief says Scotland cannot join scheme while part of the UK
“But am I going to sit here and say that Brexit is perfect and your generation is going to reap the benefits? No I’m not. Because you’re not frankly at the minute. And I can see that.”
Presenter Stephen Jardine cut in: “You’re saying his generation are not going to reap the benefits of Brexit?”
Bowie replied: “Not right now.”
Nicola Sturgeon has described the decision to leave the Erasmus programme – used by more than 2000 students and young people in Scotland every year – as an act of “cultural vandalism”.
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