Boris blunders into subsidy row

Published on Saturday 7 June 2008 19:48

BORIS Johnson sparked an angry cross-border row last night by claiming Londoners resent "forking out for things in Scotland".

The newly elected London Mayor – who is notorious for his controversial outbursts – added that Scottish politicians, including Gordon Brown, were treating the country in an "inequitable" way.

Johnson's remarks reopened the long and bitter argument about whether Scotland is subsidised by the rest of the UK.

Labour and Tory politicians have questioned whether an independent Scotland would have the cash to go it alone, while Nationalists have insisted that Scottish oil is keeping the UK afloat and would be enough to sustain an independent Scotland.

In a newspaper interview yesterday, Johnson said of residents of London and the south-east: "They're forking out for things in Scotland and you've got Scottish MPs, the Prime Minister and Chancellor, who are treating the country in an inequitable way."

But Angus Robertson, SNP Westminster leader, said: "When Boris Johnson gets up in the morning, he should thank his lucky stars that Scottish oil revenues are keeping the London Treasury afloat. And at bedtime, he should express his gratitude to the rest of the country for the Lottery good causes money being diverted to fund the London Olympics.

"Now that Boris is elected, it's time for him to get real. Public spending per head is higher in London than in Scotland. Even his predecessor, Ken Livingstone, eventually realised the error of his ways and accepted that Scotland subsidises the UK exchequer. Educating Boris in financial reality might prove more difficult."

Lib Dem MSP Robert Brown said: "I hope for the sake of his readers that Mayor Johnson's newspaper column is more accurate than this interview. He should know better than recycling Ken Livingstone's dodgy claims."

A Scottish Labour spokesman said: "Obviously Boris's old habit of insulting people across the UK has not left him. He is talking nonsense and he should apologise for his ridiculous remarks."

No one was available for comment from the Scottish Tories.

A spokesman for Johnson claimed that the remarks should not be seen as an attack on the Scots.

He said: "Boris Johnson is keen to keep his manifesto commitment to the people of London to ensure that they will not be short-changed. He is concerned that the Chancellor and the Prime Minister might hold back on funding the upgrade of the Underground and significant infrastructure projects such as Crossrail. He understands that if that were to happen, many people in London might feel resentful. Boris Johnson has only warmth and admiration for the people of Scotland."

Johnson defeated Labour London Mayor Ken Livingstone last month, despite the Tory being initially written off as a gaffe-prone figure of fun by many pundits.