LABOUR peer George Foulkes has said he will be “intensifying his campaign to stop illegal spending” by the Scottish Government when recess ends.
The former MSP and MP, who has previously insisted the idea of an equal Union was nothing more than a “myth”, also referred to Scotland’s leadership as an “elected dictatorship”.
Foulkes has argued for years that Holyrood should not be able to spend on matters relating to independence, given constitutional matters are reserved to Westminster.
It comes after we previously reported how the UK Government was investigating Scottish Government spending on a minister for independence.
Foulkes previously appeared to produce an email which seemed to confirm that Advocate General Keith Stewart had ordered his staff to probe spending although sources within the Scotland Office initially denied the existence of this to multiple outlets.
Following this however, Foulkes then challenged the UK’s top civil servant Simon Case on whether or not such spending was being looked at.
Case said that “civil servants in Scotland and Wales can only spend their money on areas that are within their competence”.
Asked specifically about the work of Jamie Hepburn, he replied: “We are looking at some of these specifics as we speak and doing that with ministers at the moment to see whether we need to issue further guidance and clarification to civil servants about what is and is not appropriate spending.
“I don’t want to prejudice the outcome of that.”
Many took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to criticise Foulkes for his comments.
MSP for Aberdeen Central Kevin Stewart (below) said: “George proving his buffoonery once again by using the phrase ‘elected dictatorship’.
“He will never get over the fact that the people have voted the way that they have and not the way that he wishes.”
Another pointed out that it probably wasn’t the “best idea” for an unelected peer to “stop the elected Scottish Government from doing what it was elected to do”.
These thoughts were echoed by a third user who said Foulkes was using his “unelected privilege to attack your country’s elected Parliament”.
We also previously told how Labour distanced themselves from their peer’s calls for the UK Government to step in and prevent spending on independence.
Keir Starmer said he had not seen what was said and so was “not in a position to comment” while Sarwar said it was not the UK Government’s role to “impose” restrictions on Scottish Government spending.
He added he had not seen the “particular comments” Foulkes had made.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The First Minister has appointed a ministerial team that reflects the priorities that he will pursue in government – including tackling child poverty, improving public services, building a fairer, greener economy, and giving people the information about devolution and independence that they need to make an informed choice about Scotland's constitutional future.
“It is the role of the Civil Service to support the elected government of the day in developing and implementing its policies.”
