Humza Yousaf has confirmed that the work of civil servants for independence will continue, as he has a “mandate” to push for the dissolution of the United Kingdom, while insisting that bureaucrats are “impartial” and “apolitical”.” He spoke out after the chief Mandarin of the United Kingdom was called to curb the expenses and work of Scexit.
The first minister was grilled by MPs at Holyrood about his government programme on Wednesday, answering a question from SNP MSP Kenny Gibson about whether he was in contact with the UK government to use public resources to press for his manifesto pledges.
The break-up of the United Kingdom is the main goal of the nationalists, and the Scottish government has published five independence prospectuses in the last two years. This is despite the Supreme Court ruling against Holyrood, which has the power to hold a second referendum.
Nicola Sturgeon was so adamant and sure that this would happen that she chose a date for it, October 19th. However, this plan was tacitly abandoned after the crushing defeat in court.
Yousaf continued the work of his predecessor to publish articles on various topics, with £80,000 paid out so far. This has led to growing criticism from opposition parties, who claimed that the government may be doing this illegally.
Labour peer Lord Foulkes called on the UK government to look into the issue, with ministers later confirming that senior civil servant Simon Case would present new guidance. Gibson asked his leader if there was an update on this, with the prime Minister quickly jumping to the defense of his public service.
He said: “As the Member is aware, there have been a number of interventions by members of the House of Commons, members of the House of Lords and even ministers of the UK government alluding to the fact that the Scottish government should not do any work for which we have a mandate, especially in relation to the Constitution.
“Of course, since the Supreme Court ruling, we have received clear instructions from the Secretary of State for the work we can do. I am just quoting John Paul Marks, Permanent Secretary of the Committee on Finance and Public Administration on 16 May this year.
“We serve the government of time. This also includes the constitutional reform, as it has been well understood for many years about decentralization. The public service in the Scottish Government serves the Scottish government and its priorities.
“And we offer policy advice, including the development of a number of prospectuses for the government, setting out its constitutional goals.” So we know that our excellent public service will of course work impartially and apolitically to support and support the government of the day in the goals for which it was elected, the mandate it was given and the manifesto commitments it made.
“And there can be no doubt that this party that I lead will hold a clear referendum on independence, and we will continue to pursue this.”