Gil Paterson: 'Grubby Tory-DUP deal shows austerity is a political choice NOT a political necessity'

MSP Gil Paterson has condemned the breaking of the Barnett Formula rules.

MSP Gil Paterson has called the Tories’ deal with the DUP “shameless” and “grubby”.

The Clydebank MSP pointed out the financial aspects of the deal clinched on Monday sum up how little the Tories care about Scotland.

The position of current Scottish Secretary David Mundell who said a day before this deal was announced that he "won't support funding which is deliberately sought to subvert the Barnett rules".

Mr Paterson said: “This grubby deal clinched between the Tories and the DUP throws even more chaos into the so-called United Kingdom – it absolutely flies in the face of the Barnett Formula and leaves Scotland short-changed.

“It’s time for Scottish Secretary David Mundell and leader Ruth Davidson to live up to their boasts and prevent this deal from going through by ordering their Scottish MPs to use their votes to halt it.

​“To quote David Mundell, the agreement with the DUP does ‘deliberately subvert’ the Barnett rules that ensures devolved countries of the UK get their fair share of tax revenues.

“I do not expect the Scottish Tories to act and stand up for Scotland, as they do appear to be more interested in bowing to Theresa May, to help her cling to power. It is shameless.

“This agreement ends austerity in Northern Ireland but continues it in Scotland, where people suffer on a daily basis in my constituency. This shows austerity is a political choice not a political necessity.”

ENDS

What is the Barnett Formula?

The Barnett formula is a mechanism used by the UK treasury to automatically adjust amounts of public expenditure allocated to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It is supposed to reflect public service spending in England, England and Wales or Great Britain, as appropriate.
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• If the £1bn of additional funding for Northern Ireland was subject to the Barnett formula, Scotland should receive £2.9bn of extra funds.
• Using the population proportions used in the 2015 Spending Review (Annex D):
  
  

Population as proportion of England
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Additional funding (£bn)

England - £29.50bn
Northern Ireland - 3.39% - £1bn 
Scotland - 9.85% - £2.91bn 
Wales - 5.69% - £1.68bn