DOWNING Street is reportedly looking to hire dozens more Union advisers as the Prime Minister begins to see fighting Scottish independence as a priority.
The Union Directorate, which is being headed up by former Vote Leave chief Oliver Lewis, currently employs 15 people – but is looking to triple in size to as many as 30-50 team members, the Press and Journal reports.
Sources say that behind closed doors Boris Johnson admits too little time has been spent on securing the Union’s future, with Brexit and the pandemic coming first.
The Union Directorate is replacing the Union Unit that was thrown into chaos when its only Scottish member was sacked earlier this month.
READ MORE: WATCH: FM hits out at Union Unit for saying knowledge of Scotland isn't needed
Former Tory MP for Ochil and South Perthshire, Luke Graham, was relieved of his duties following a “brutal” row with Johnson on his return from a highly criticised trip to Scotland.
Speaking to the newspaper, one senior UK Government source said the pro-Union team’s challenge is similar to that faced by generals in Vietnam.
They commented: “The strategy has been a bit like the US dealing with the Viet Cong.
“The generals there were playing chess, trying to land that killer blow, but the game they should have been playing was Go, where you surround the opposing side.
“We need a much more holistic approach against the SNP, there needs to be work with charities, opinion formers and civil society to change people’s minds.
“There’s too much soft support for independence.”
Kirsten Oswald, the SNP’s deputy Westminster leader, called the use of language “outrageous”.
“It is outrageous for the prime minister’s taxpayer-funded advisers to paint people in Scotland as the enemy and to use the language of war,” she said.
“It’s no wonder the growing majority of people in Scotland want to escape Westminster, and build a country based on compassion and equality, instead of this ridiculous rhetoric.”
She added that the plan to hire so many staff to the pro-Union team proves “beyond any doubt” that the Government is getting ready for a referendum.
“People in Scotland have the right to determine their own future in a post-pandemic referendum. Boris Johnson knows he cannot stand in the way of democracy any more than Donald Trump.”
Number 10 has denied creating the Union Directorate due to fears over growing support for independence. Some 21 consecutive polls have now shown majority support for Yes.
The PM’s spokesperson said their focus is to “ensure that we deliver for people across the United Kingdom and that’s what the Union Directorate will allow us to do”.
This week The National reported how the unit is looking for staff – with knowledge of Scotland described as “desirable”, rather than required.
READ MORE: Union Unit seeking new staff – but knowledge of Scotland is not required
During FMQs Nicola Sturgeon commented on the row, telling MSPs: "I suppose the UK Government asking for people where knowledge of Scotland is desirable you could say is a step in the right direction because there is no evidence they have insisted on that at any point in the past.
“Doesn't it say it all – recruiting people in a so-called Union Unit that I understand that they've said it's not essential to have knowledge of Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland perhaps might just sum up the Union pretty perfectly.
"The most interesting thing about this Union Unit, as far as I can see, if it was the Scottish Government of course, having an independence unit in this way we'd have howls of protests from the Conservatives. It's all this effort that has been put into fighting a referendum campaign that they say is never ever going to happen. It's a bit odd that."
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