The First Minister recently refreshed calls for the Scotland Office to be abolished.
Certainly it is struggling to explain its relevance. As the FM said:
"I think that it is better if departmental contact that the Scottish Government and its officials contact directly the relevant department. I don't think that an intermediary is particularly helpful on many occasions, and I think that would be more effective."
The Scotland Office's budget is said to be £7m. It increases bureaucracy. Labour might want Jim Murphy to continue using it as a platform to get on the media and attack the SNP, but that's not his job.
The Scottish Secretary's position is akin to being the UK's ambassador in Scotland, but without the independence bit. Given Mr Murphy may well lose his seat at the election this year, perhaps he would be a candidate for such a role post-independence. Would just need to sharpen his diplomatic skills a bit.
Comments