Scotland’s most senior civil servant has been urged to launch an investigation after a senior Scottish government official said part of his job was to “break up” the UK.
A leaked video shows Ken Thomson, the Scottish Government’s Director-General for Strategy and External Relations, telling colleagues that his title opens doors in Whitehall.
In the footage of an internal civil service event, Mr Thomson then describes how fellow civil servants later discover that ‘what I’m really here to talk about is breaking up the Kingdom’.
Leaked video shows Ken Thomson saying part of his job was ‘breaking up’ the UK
A senior Scottish Conservative MSP has called on JP Marks, the Permanent Secretary of the Scottish Government, to launch an inquiry into the ‘breach of the requirement that civil servants be politically impartial’.
The video appeared just days after it was revealed that Britain’s head of civil service is reassessing whether ministers can continue to use Scottish government staff and resources to promote the advocacy of independence.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is also threatened with a legal challenge to prevent her from using public money and civil service for independence.
It comes in the wake of last week’s Supreme Court ruling that the Scottish government cannot hold a referendum without the consent of the UK government, as the constitution is reserved for Westminster.
Mr Thomson, a senior civil servant, is the Scottish Government’s Director-General for Strategy and Foreign Affairs
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also faces the threat of a legal challenge to prevent her from using public money and civil service for independence
Donald Cameron, constitutional spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives, said: “This outburst is unacceptable and I will be writing to the Permanent Secretary to see if he agrees that it breaches the requirement for civil servants to be politically impartial.
We all know that the Nationalists’ strategy is nothing more than breaking up the UK, but officials shouldn’t brag that it’s their job.
“Given the court’s ruling, it is unacceptable that taxpayers’ money and public servants’ time should be spent in this way.
If there are serious doubts about the SNP’s survival with projects that may be outside the legitimate purview of the Scottish Government, this is another example of their focus on their own constitutional obsession.
It’s the wrong priority at the worst possible time, when Scots want and expect the SNP to focus on urgent issues, such as the cost of living crisis and Scotland’s crumbling NHS.
“The SNP government should drop their obsession and immediately devote these resources to meeting the real needs of Scottish households.”
The images, published by the Daily record newspaper, shows Mr Thomson on stage in front of the Scottish Government branding and ‘in the service of Scotland’ logo.
After being asked by an audience member about his responsibility for “strategic thinking,” Mr. Thomson said, “Let me tell you a secret about why I have strategy in my job description.
“It’s partly that it’s a word that gets me through some doors in Whitehall, and then they find out that what I’m really here to talk about is breaking up the kingdom.”
After members of the public laughed at the comment, Mr. Thomson added, “So it’s shorthand for constitutional amendment.”
Mr Thomson’s mandate includes constitutional issues, intergovernmental relations, EU relations and support to Cabinet decision-making.
Scottish Labor Constitution spokesperson Sarah Boyack said: ‘There are serious questions to answer about whether this is an appropriate use of time and energy by the civil service.
The SNP’s constitutional obsession may be all that matters to them, but they must not derail the work of the Scottish Government.
“That means leadership from the top to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, and supporting and retaining our NHS staff who have kept us through COVID must be their priority to build a fairer, greener Scotland.” to deliver.
“More than ever, we need our two governments to work for our constituents and businesses who need practical help now.”
Over the weekend, figures released by the Scottish Government in response to a Freedom of Information backlash from the Scottish Conservatives revealed that 24 civil servants are now working on the updated independence prospectus, with their salaries rising to £1.5 million a year. year.
UK Cabinet Secretary Simon Case is looking at whether SNP ministers can continue asking Scottish government officials to work on the independence case following last week’s Supreme Court case.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “Mr Thomson should reflect on whether his comments represent the high standards of the civil service and whether it was appropriate to say this in front of lower-ranking staff.”
Meanwhile, Alexander Burnett, head of the Scottish Conservatives, wrote to Ms Sturgeon to express her concern that her official spokesman broke the code of conduct for special advisers last week when he launched a strongly worded attack on opposition parties following the rulers’ lead of the Supreme Court, accusing them of a ‘denial of democracy’.
Under the rules, special advisers “should not participate in political controversies publicly, through any form of statement,” and there is also a requirement to “observe discretion and comment with moderation, avoiding personal attacks.” will be avoided’.
A spokesman for the Scottish Government told the Daily Record: “During an hour-long question-and-answer session with Scottish Government staff on 17 November, the Director-General for Strategy and External Affairs gave an informal comment in response to a question about his job title.
“As outlined during that session, it is the duty of civil servants to support ministers in a manner that is consistent with the Civil Servants Act, good governance, organizational values and the democratic process.”