BORIS Johnson's bid to "love bomb" voters to reduce support for independence is being stepped up with the announcement that 1000 UK civil service jobs will come to Scotland.
It is being reported that under his government's security and defence review, being published today, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s base in East Kilbride is to be expanded by 500 staff.
The move to enlarge the department comes days after it emerged plans were in place to relocate the Cabinet Office headquarters from London to Glasgow, bringing 500 new jobs to Scotland's biggest city.
It also follows more than 20 polls showing either majority support for independence or 50-50 Yes/No split.
Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said the move will “co-locate the engine room of the UK Government in Scotland”, with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab saying 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.
Gove said: “The Cabinet Office’s new HQ in Glasgow will co-locate the engine room of the UK Government in Scotland, bringing decision-makers closer to the communities they serve and ensuring closer collaboration between Scotland’s two governments as we tackle the Covid-19 pandemic together and work to build a sustainable recovery.
“Not only will this bring new jobs and investment to Scotland, it will strengthen the diversity of the UK civil service, ending the Westminster knows best approach to policymaking and ensuring Scottish voices shape everything we do.”
Raab added: “There can be no clearer demonstration of commitment to our joint HQ in East Kilbride than today’s announcement that an extra 500 Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office jobs are coming to Scotland. This will further ensure the civil service represents all parts of the UK and will be a boost to the Scottish economy.
“Staff at Abercrombie House are at the forefront of delivering the UK’s diplomatic clout, as we prepare to host the G7 and COP26, while supporting the delivery of our £10 billion aid budget to continue helping the world’s poorest people.”
The East Kilbride building was previously home to the Department for International Development (Dfid) before it was merged into the Foreign Office.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “It is great news that hundreds more UK Government civil service jobs will be moving to Scotland, along with the creation of a second UK Government base.
“It will join the flagship Queen Elizabeth House in Edinburgh as a demonstration of our unwavering commitment to strengthening the United Kingdom.”
The announcements come some weeks after Johnson met troops and medical staff in Castlemilk as part of his controversial visit to Scotland in January during lockdown with rules in place by the Scottish Government to prevent unnecessary travel.
The Prime Minister greeting soldiers at a coronavirus vaccination centre in Castlemilk and also visited the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
He travelled to Livingston too to visit a science laboratory developing a Covid vaccine.
However his visit was slammed by Glasgow South MP Stewart McDonald, who called the visit "a photo opportunity".
Commenting on the jobs announcements, the SNP described the UK Government's claim as more "empty promises".
A statement from the party said that according to official figures since 2010, the Tories have axed almost 7000 civil service jobs in Scotland.
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 wide scale cuts.
"The UK Government has made empty promises like this before, and like previous promises about safeguarding or creating jobs, they almost always come to nothing. That experience just shows how the Tories think they can get away with reneging on grandiose announcements.
“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.”
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