Goldie to quash subisidy argument

ANNABEL Goldie, the out-going leader of the Scots Tories, is to confront claims by English Tories today that Scotland is being subsidised by the rest of the UK.

In an effort to quash growing claims south of the Border about Scotland’s spending, she will argue that the rest of the UK would end up worse off if Scotland became independent.

“If one bit of our United Kingdom house gets demolished, instability sets in, the rest is at risk,” she will say.

Despite resentment at “free” services in Scotland unavailable in England, she will argue that Scottish ministers have to cut elsewhere to afford them. She will also call on the SNP to hold their independence referendum immediately and “put this constitutional turmoil to bed”.

First Minister Alex Salmond last night said he “welcomed” Goldie’s acceptance that “Tory attacks on Scotland’s finances are wrong, misplaced and misleading”.

However, he said that the Conservatives also now had to accept that the UK government’s plans to hand more tax powers to the Scottish Parliament were also likely to have a “negative impact”.

SNP ministers argue that the proposals, contained in the Scotland Bill are badly formed, and will lead to less money available for public spending.

He announced he had written yesterday to Prime Minister David Cameron to ask that the Scottish Parliament be able to decide when and if it wanted to enact the new income tax powers.

In the speech, Goldie will urge Conservative members from across the UK to back the Union. She will add: “Put at its simplest, being Scottish and British – or English or Welsh or Northern Irish and British – is a state of mind. It’s the way we feel, it is the way we are. Proud of our distinctive cultures and traditions, proud of our partnership together. It just is.”