NICOLA STURGEON’S SNP spent an outrageous sum of taxpayers’ money for a failed Brexit court case, unearthed reports reveal.
Scotland’s superior deficit performance came to an end 30 years ago and for the past ten years the picture has been one of significant deteriorations relative to the rest of the UK. According to the Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland (GERS), in 2018-19, the country ran a budget deficit of 7 percent of gross domestic product, compared with 1.1 percent for the whole of the UK. Scotland’s revenue per head, even including a geographic share of North Sea revenues, was £11,531, compared with £11,838 for the whole of the UK.
Moreover, Scotland’s public expenditure per head is significantly higher than the whole of the UK – £13,854 versus £12,193.
Despite the country’s weak economic performance, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is not only ramping up her calls for a second independence referendum but it also appears that her party spent an “outrageous” sum of taxpayers’ money for a failed Brexit court case.
n 2018, the SNP argued that the UK Withdrawal Bill put forward by Theresa May undermined the founding principles of devolution and diluted the powers of the Scottish Parliament.
Nicola Sturgeon’s ministers claimed that some EU powers – like support for farmers, control of our seas or food standards – fell within areas that are Holyrood's responsibility.
Amid failing negotiations between the Scottish government and the UK government, the SNP introduced the EU Continuity Bill.
However, it was later referred to the Supreme Court by UK ministers, who claimed Holyrood acted outside its remit by passing the Bill.
It was the first time in the history of devolution that Westminster challenged legislation passed by Holyrood in the country's highest court.
According to a 2019 report by the Scottish Sun, SNP Ministers spent £132,000 for the court case, which in January last year, ruled against them.
The Scottish Government’s expenses to the Supreme Court from January were buried in a long-delayed spending paper released in October.
The document listed a payment of £119,389 for the Continuity Bill showdown with Westminster over the return of more than 100 devolved powers post-Brexit.
However, the final figure was actually £12,000 higher, it emerged.
Conservative MSP Adam Tomkins furiously condemned the hefty bill, saying: “No wonder the SNP government has kept this quiet.
"The SNP has spent another outrageous sum of taxpayers’ money promoting its own nationalist agenda through the courts.
Conservative MSP Adam Tomkins (Image: GETTY)
“There was never any need for this bill but the SNP will take any opportunity to pursue separation, regardless of the cost to the people of Scotland.”
The Scottish Government said in a statement the legal bill included lawyers’ fees of £131,316.60, £160 court costs and £423 on admin.
However, the figure did not include the Lord Advocate’s expenses or internal legal advice from government briefs.
