THE First Minister has panned Rishi Sunak after the Tory leader shared a map about plans to “level up” the north – which omitted most of Scotland.
Humza Yousaf said the UK Government had “quite literally wiped us off the map” in response to the map which did not feature anything above Dundee.
Rishi Sunak had been aiming to promote his replacement for the failed HS2 project, which he has called “Network North”.
Critics say that Sunak’s new announcement is nothing of the sort, instead being packed full of old pledges that the Tories have failed to deliver to date.
In one egregious example, the UK Government pledged “the extension of the Manchester Metrolink to … Manchester Airport” – a line which has been operational since 2014.
Sharing a map of the “Network North” pledges against one of the proposed HS2 route – which has been cut back – Sunak wrote: “HS2 cost too much, took too long and didn’t deliver what the British people need.
“Network North will be a different story - hundreds of transport projects starting sooner and finishing faster.
“Find out what it means for your area.”
But the map cut off most of Scotland, leading the First Minister to hit back.
“In 2014 Westminster said that if Scotland voted No then we would lead the UK,” Yousaf wrote.
“Now, when the PM talks about investing in the North, most of Scotland doesn't even feature, he has quite literally wiped us off the map.
“Westminster continues to fail Scotland time and time again.”
Stranraer and Gretna do feature on Sunak’s map, after the Tories pledged to upgrade the A75 road connecting the two.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack called for work on the A75 road to start "immediately" in 2022, but the Scottish Government said transport was devolved and asked him to "respect" their remit.
