THE SNP has called the 1000 UK civil service jobs being relocated to Scotland in the coming years a “drop in the ocean”.
SNP MSP George Adam said 7000 civil service jobs in Scotland have been axed by the Tories since 2010.
UK ministers announced that well as the Cabinet Office headquarters in Glasgow, more than 500 Foreign Office jobs will move to the department’s existing base in East Kilbride.
SNP MSP George Adam said: “Since 2010 the Tories have axed 7000 civil service jobs in Scotland.
“In a period of Westminster austerity, the UK government chose to disproportionately slash jobs north of the Border – today’s announcement is a drop in the ocean against the backdrop of these widescale cuts.
“The Tories know that if people vote SNP in May then a fresh referendum is coming – they wouldn’t be spending so much time relocating Whitehall staff to Scotland if they didn’t.”
GMB Scotland secretary Gary Smith said the jobs and investment are welcome, but “won’t resolve the many deep-rooted problems that exist”.
He added: “It makes sense for the civil service to be spread out. You can’t level up a country if its jobs and wealth are concentrated in a few areas, and Glasgow and the west certainly need levelling up.”
Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said the move will “co-locate the engine room of the UK Government in Scotland”.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the relocated jobs will ensure the civil service “represents all parts of the UK”.
The 500 additional roles will bring the Foreign Office’s staff in East Kilbride to 1500 by 2025.
The announcements come as the Scottish Conservatives hold their virtual spring conference ahead of the Holyrood elections in May.
Gove said the move is “bringing decision-makers closer to the communities they serve and ensuring closer collaboration between Scotland’s two governments”.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel