BORIS Johnson has been told to come clean over suggestions he offered Scottish Tory MPs government jobs to secure their backing for foreign aid cuts.
Ian Blackford has written to Number 10 to demand answers, citing remarks from senior Tory MP Damian Green that Downing Street positions were "dangled" in front of backbenchers.
The Conservatives made an explicit manifesto commitment in 2019 to maintain the overseas budget at 0.7% of national income. However, they are now cutting that to 0.5%.
A total of 24 Tory MPs rebelled against the proposal, including former prime minister Theresa May.
Yet all six Scottish Conservative MPs, including Douglas Ross, backed the Johnson administration and voted in favour of the £4 billion cut.
Blackford is urging Downing Street to explain how they convinced backbench MPs to support the measures, suggesting that Cabinet positions may have been offered ahead of an upcoming reshuffle.
The SNP Westminster leader said: "Since the devastating vote to slash international aid to the world’s poorest, there have been deepening concerns and growing accusations surrounding the dodgy backroom dealing and dirty tactics deployed by Boris Johnson's government to prevent a bigger backbench rebellion.
READ MORE: Commons data shows how Scotland could act on overseas aid
"Reports – publicly backed by a senior Tory figure – that the offer of government promotions was 'dangled' in front of Tory MPs in exchange for their votes raises very serious questions.
"I have written to the Prime Minister offering him the opportunity to categorically deny that Scottish Conservative votes to cut foreign aid were bought off with the promise or discussions of government jobs.
"We know all too well the rogue and immoral manner in which this Tory government is being run. In stark contrast to Westminster's cuts to aid, the SNP Scottish Government is increasing its International Development Fund by 50%."
The Scottish Tories, who were condemned for backing the "deplorable" cuts, dismissed Blackford's comments as "SNP nonsense".
The SNP Westminster leader also accuses the Prime Minister of deliberately breaking House of Commons rules during the debate on the foreign aid cut.
Blackford was angered because Johnson failed to inform the SNP that he would be opening the debate in Parliament.
"This is by no means the first occasion when proper procedures have not been followed under your watch,” Blackford wrote.
"Unlike the approach adopted by your predecessors, persistent failures to provide information, proper notice or full parliamentary scrutiny have been a constant during your period as Prime Minister.”
Johnson will have the opportunity to respond to the claims during Prime Minister’s Questions later today.
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