Scottish independence: Michael Moore given ‘Tory shield’ say Scottish MPs

SCOTTISH Secretary Michael Moore has been given a “human shield” of English Tories during Scottish questions to protect him from opposition MPs from north of the Border, Labour has claimed.

The allegation came as the same ten Tory MPs were drawn for Welsh questions this week as were selected to ask Scottish questions last week.

Labour yesterday claimed whips had asked the same Tory MPs to submit easy questions to Mr Moore and Welsh Secretary David Jones to cut down on the time available for Welsh and Scottish MPs and to disguise the Tories’ lack of political representation beyond England.

Shadow Welsh secretary Owen Smith said: “Tory whips are so embarrassed at their party’s narrow reach that they have to put up these rent-a-question MPs, who represent areas hundreds of miles away from Scotland and Wales and who are prepared to ask whatever they’re told, as human shields for the government.”

A Downing Street source added: “This is total nonsense. If Labour MPS are claiming this it is quite sad.”