Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South constituency, has commented on the confirmation that the Conservatives have finally concluded a deal with the DUP to stay in power.
Tom stated,
“It is estimated that this £1 billion deal will cost £15 per person in the UK. For East Renfrewshire with a population of just over 93,000 that is equivalent to £1.4 million.
“With £2.9 billion to be cut from the Scottish budget by the Tories by 2020, it is galling that this is the exact amount that Scotland would have been set to gain if this funding were not shamelessly excluded from the Barnett formula.
“The Scottish Secretary David Mundell said that he ‘won’t support funding which is deliberately sought to subvert the Barnett rules, and so it is now the turn of the newly-elected MP for East Renfrewshire to stand up for Scotland.
“I hope that Paul Masterton will agree that this is a poor deal that short-changes his constituents, and join my colleagues in doing all they can to ensure that we get our fair share for Scotland.”