A TORY MP has sparked fury by branding the SNP “fifth columnists” over their refusal to throw taxpayers’ cash at munitions.
Dumfries and Galloway MP John Cooper said there was a “environment for defence companies in Scotland”.
The incendiary claim, which refers to fascists within Madrid who would support Francisco Franco’s forces when they took the republican-held city during the Spanish Civil War, came during a debate on delays to new reconnaissance planes for the RAF.
During Wednesday’s debate, Cooper (below) said: “There is something of a hostile environment for defence companies in Scotland, because the SNP Government refuse to put money into what they call ‘munitions’, which is scarcely credible in the current circumstances.
“Most recently, Rolls Royce wanted to build a welding centre of excellence on the banks of the Clyde, close to where Thales is based, but incredibly the Scottish Government will not put money into it.
“To their credit, the UK Government have said they will back it to the hilt, which has to be good news, but it is very strange that the [[Scottish Government]] are taking an almost fifth-columnist view of the defence of the realm; indeed, it is quite remarkable.”
Dave Doogan, the [[SNP]]'s defence spokesperson, said it was "shameless" for Labour or the Tories to criticise his party on the military, pointing out both parties had shrunk the size of the military.
He told The National: "The [[Tories]] and Labour Party have spent decades slashing defence spending in Scotland and depleting our armed forces – cutting Scottish regiments, personnel, ships, aircraft and, with it, eroding the UK’s defence capabilities.
“It is utterly shameless for them to now blame the [[Scottish Government]] for a reserved matter, which is entirely the responsibility of Westminster and over which they have such an embarrassingly poor record."
Doogan (above) said the big Westminster parties "should be apologising to voters for putting our security at risk, sending our troops to disastrous illegal wars and doomed interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and failing to give our armed forces the equipment, pay, housing and support they deserve".
He added: "After years of Westminster neglect, it's vital the UK government finally delivers a full and fair share of funding for Scotland's conventional forces to boost defences at our end of this island and deliver jobs and investment across Scotland’s communities.”
The Scottish Government does back weapon firms, however it limits how its cash is spent so it does not directly fund the manufacture of weapons.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government’s long-standing policy position is that neither the Government nor its agencies should use public money to support the manufacture of munitions.”
