ALISTER Jack has been accused of “blatantly” misleading Parliament after claiming the UK Government does not conduct political polling.
Mhairi Black was stunned by the Scottish Secretary’s claims after pushing for answers on two separate incidents in which the Cabinet Office used public funds to research the Union.
The Tory government recently lost its bid to conceal polling conducted since January 2018 on the attitudes towards the UK. Last week, the Cabinet Office was ordered by a tribunal to release the data within 28 days following a two-year battle with SNP MP Tommy Sheppard.
And today it emerged that Michael Gove’s department commissioned a firm which was contracted for emergency pandemic-related work to conduct a study on the Union.
The SNP are demanding an inquiry after it was revealed by the Herald that the Cabinet Office minister instructed officials to commission political research on "attitudes to the UK Union". The work was carried out using an emergency Covid contract given to Public First, a firm run by two of his associates.
READ MORE: Michael Gove 'misused' emergency Covid contract for Unionist campaigning
Speaking today at Scottish Questions in the Commons, Black demanded answers from the Scottish Secretary.
Citing the secret polling which the Cabinet Office has been ordered to release, she asked: “Can the minister confirm that this information will be published in the next three weeks as the tribunal has ordered the UK Government to do?”
Jack said that the question would have to be answered by the Cabinet Office. He added that Gove’s department has been “very clear – they do not spend money on political polling or research”.
Black, evidently perplexed by the “rather bizarre” answer, continued.
“Today we learn that the UK Government have actually used emergency Covid funds to publicly fund further polls on the Union in a contract given to the close associates of the Duchy of Lancaster,” she stated.
“Would the minister say that this is an appropriate use of emergency funds? And will he back the SNP’s calls for an inquiry into the misuse of these funds?”
The Scottish Secretary replied: “I’ve spoken to the Cabinet Office about this. They don’t engage in political polling and they’re very clear about that.”
Issuing a statement afterwards, Black called on Tory ministers to come clean on their research about the Union and accused them of a “gross misuse” of taxpayers’ cash.
She said: “Alister Jack has blatantly misled Parliament over secret Union polling. He stated today in response to my question that the Cabinet Office 'does not spend money on political polling or research' just hours after the Herald reported seeing court documents showing a request to test attitudes to the union was made by Michael Gove using emergency Covid funds.
"The bizarre statement also comes just a week after the decision from the tribunal upholding my SNP colleague Tommy Sheppard’s appeal and ordering the Cabinet Office to disclose all the information he requested on polling perceptions of the Union within 28 days.
“Taxpayers’ have a right to know if and how much of their money has been spent on the Tory government’s political agenda – particularly when that money was supposed to be used to tackle a deadly virus and save lives. The only possible explanation for keeping Union polling secret is, in the case of using a Covid contract to do it, it has been a gross misuse of public funds and it makes for uncomfortable reading - for the Tories and their hollow rhetoric on the Union.”
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon responds to Michael Gove's 'sneering, arrogant' indyref claims
She added: “People in Scotland know that we are vulnerable under Westminster and the Tories - with their toxic, isolationist, austerity-driven policies, and their form on dodging transparency and scrutiny. The only way to secure a strong, fair and equal recovery for Scotland is with the full powers of independence.”
Earlier, the Cabinet Office dismissed suggestions that it has carried out “political” research on attitudes towards the Union.
A spokesperson commented: "Any suggestion that the Government carries out party-political research or polling is entirely false.
"Strengthening the Union and levelling up in every part of the UK are government priorities, and we regularly undertake research to support policy development."
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