FOR a long time, there have been two enduring questions about the job of the Scotland Office.
First of all, what’s it for?
According to the official mission statement they spend their days: “promoting the best interests of Scotland within a stronger United Kingdom.”
But, with the arrival of the Scottish Parliament, it’s not exactly a full-time job.
In the days when Labour was in charge Scottish Secretaries famously filled their days with guitar lessons and learning a foreign language.
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When Des Browne did the job, it was on a part-time basis and he managed to fit in running the MoD at the same time.
But, for some reason, the department needs a Cabinet Minister, a Minister in the Lords and an army of spin doctors costing £686,000 — half a million more than in 2010. What for?
The other big question has always been: Who is he working for? Is the Secretary of State Scotland’s man in Westminster or Westminster’s man in Scotland?
And all of these issues are alive again as Scotland Secretary David Mundell comes under renewed fire for failing to secure VAT changes for Police Scotland.
The national force is the only one across the UK forced to pay VAT.
Scottish taxpayers work hard to supply the money to run the force so police accountants can keep busy handing over VAT to the UK Government.
We pay out good money to collect taxpayers’ money and hand it back to the taxpayer. It’s pointless and wasteful.
Yes, the Scottish Government was warned setting up the force in the way they chose would lead to VAT liability — and they didn’t listen. It’s their fault.
But is allowing this situation to continue really a demonstration of “promoting the best interests of Scotland within a stronger United Kingdom”?
When George Osborne planned to slash Scottish budgets by £7billion in exchange for tax powers, it was John Swinney and not David Mundell who faced him down.
Before the DUP was paid off with a £1billion bribe to buy the votes that kept the Tories in power — with nothing for Scotland — Mr Mundell made his disapproval well known.
Afterwards, well, not so much.
He’s the Secretary of State for Scotland after all so let’s see some action FOR Scotland.
Out the louts
JUST when you think the cess pit of football hooliganism can’t get any worse, it does.
It’s impossible to understand what could infect the minds of the louts who decided to mock terror victim Drummer Lee Rigby with their vile chants but the pain they have inflicted on his family is all too plain.
His heartbroken mum Lyn is calling on bosses at Celtic to track down those behind the chants.
Celtic fans should name them and shame them. If they choose to stay silent, they are part of the problem.