Humza Yousaf accuses UK Government of trying to 'shut down' independence case over civil service curb

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Humza Yousaf has accused Westminster of trying to “shut down” independence by blocking civil servants from working on the policy.The First Minister also said it was “tosh” to claim civil servants were leading on a new blueprint for independence because the SNP has no money.The UK Government is believed to be planning a crackdown on Yousaf’s administration using civil servants to help work on an overhauled case for independence.Simon Case, the head of the Civil Service, said it was “unusual and a bit worrying” for officials to be spending their time this way.He said he hoped guidance for civil servants would be published within weeks, while Labour peer George Foulkes has suggested SNP Ministers should be sanctioned for spending money on independence.Yousaf, who will launch his Government’s latest independence paper this week, said: “What we won't countenance and stand for is any of the Westminster establishment, be it the UK Government or indeed those in the House of Lords, trying to curb the work that we are democratic elected to do.”He said: “This to me is a demonstration of just how weak their case is, if they're trying to shut down what we have been democratically elected to do.“I believe our arguments are strong.

I believe we can win any referendum on independence, whenever that is. And I would say 'bring it on'.“Instead of trying to shut us down, to shut down the debate or the argument, get on with it and make your case."He was also asked about claims the SNP, which is under police investigation over its use of donations, did not have the money to develop the independence case:“I thought it was utterly tosh.“I think the financial health of the SNP and the finance of the SNP have been well rehearsed.