Scottish independence: UK Government criticised over plans to open Treasury Office in Scotland

By ANDREW WHITAKER
Published on 27/07/2012 17:42

THE UK Government is to open a Treasury Office in Scotland for the first time to promote the “benefits of the UK” in the run-up to the independence referendum.

A new post is being created offering a salary package of around £100,000 to be paid between now and the end of 2014 - the two year period covering the SNP’s preferred date for a vote on whether Scotland will leave the UK.

The “head of Scotland’s Analysis and Stakeholder engagement” will head-up a Treasury office in Scotland and compile information for the UK Government as the independence referendum gets nearer.

However, the creation of the post, which includes work alongside ministers and senior officials in London and Scotland, was heavily criticised by a leading SNP MSP, who said that the post “smacked of hypocrisy” after unionist parties attacked Mr Salmond for wanting to hire an adviser on international affairs.

SNP MSP John Wilson, deputy head of Holyrood’s economy committee, said: “Clearly this is the UK Government attempting to politicise its civil service in the lead up to the referendum in 2014.

“This smacks of hypocrisy by the UK Government, when we consider the criticism directed at appointments made to look at the future role of an independent Scotland on the world stage.

“The advert is clearly for a post related to promoting the supposed continued benefits of the UK and it’s being done in the face of increasing confidence among the Scottish people about the prospect of independence.”

Eben Wilson, director of the TaxpayerScotland campaign groups, said: “It really is galling with the referendum still two years away that the political elite think it right to spend taxpayers money on self-serving exercises”