WESTMINSTER GOVERNMENT ACCUSED OF SERIOUS ABUSE OF TAXPAYER RESOURCES REVELATIONS OF PUBLIC SPENDING TO ASSIST NO CAMPAIGN The Westminster Government is facing accusations of a serious misuse of taxpayer resources today after separate reports of taxpayer money being spent to prop up the No campaign. Todays Scotland on Sunday revealed that the scale of money spent on secret opinion polling and private communications support for the anti-independence campaign has been far greater that previously suspected – with almost £400,000 of taxpayer spending identified so far. Spending on secret opinion polling has reached £299,100 while a further £85,783 was spent on communications support from Engine Partners UK. When evidence of secret opinion polling first emerged it was confirmed that the details had been shared with the No campaign. Now the anti-independence organisation are under fresh pressure to reveal whether the details of these additional Westminster Government polls were also shared with them and what campaign decisions they helped to influence. Meanwhile the Sunday Herald revealed that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office had helped arrange meetings with media outlets and think tanks in America for Alistair Darling, despite him having no role in Government. The Sunday Herald reports that the meetings were with bodies specialising in defence and international relations, despite Alistair Darlings background being in economics and finance. Commenting, SNP Westminster Leader Angus Robertson MP said: “The scale of the taxpayer money that the Westminster Government has spent on these secret polls for the No campaign is utterly scandalous. What is it that is in these polls that the No campaign is so terrified of the public finding out? It speaks volumes that the Westminster Government is so desperate to keep the results of their own secret polls under wraps. “The No campaign must reveal if these secret, taxpayer-funded polls have been shared with them - as previous media reports have suggested - and what campaign decisions they helped to influence. The suspicion will inevitably be that they are behind the anti-independence campaigns recent attempt at rebranding and David Camerons increasingly panicked visits to Scotland. Taxpayers in Scotland have unknowingly paid nearly £400,000 for private communication support and for these polls to be conducted, so clearly have a right to know what they say. The Westminster Government and the No campaign cannot continue to hide the truth - they must publish the polls and come clean on what they are hiding from people in Scotland. Meanwhile it seems that the FCO has gone to huge lengths to facilitate Alistair Darlings trip to the states to brief against independence. That the UKs diplomatic resources and staff are being used to benefit the head of the No campaign - a backbench MP - is utterly unacceptable. The UK Government must, as a matter of urgency, publish the full details of the purpose of Mr Darlings engagements with the media and think-tanks. There must now be a full and frank disclosure of how much has been spent assisting Alistair Darling and transparency about what was discussed at private meetings held during the trip.”
Posted on: Sun, 06 Jul 2014 09:44:34 +0000
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