Oral Answers to Questions

Martyn Day Excerpts

Thursday 25th March 2021 Commons Chamber

[Kenny MacAskill (East Lothian) (SNP)]

How much his Department has spent on native advertising in UK newspapers since the end of the transition period.

[Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP)]

How much his Department has spent on native advertising in UK newspapers since the end of the transition period.

[Chris Law (Dundee West) (SNP)]

How much his Department has spent on native advertising in UK newspapers since the end of the transition period.

--- Later in debate ---

[Michael Gove]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising that. Not only would I be happy to pay for an advertisement in the East Lothian Courier; I would be happy to come to Haddington to support Craig Hoy, the excellent Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate standing in the Scottish parliamentary elections, who will be a strong voice for East Lothian in Holyrood, just as the hon. Gentleman is here in Westminster.

[Martyn Day [V]]

In Government-sponsored ads on the alleged success of Brexit, the same three or four companies have been highlighted in at least 16 newspapers throughout the UK. Are these the only companies that the Government could actually find that would be willing to discuss the benefits of Brexit?

[Michael Gove]

No, there is a limitless list, and I could take up the rest of the day by running through all the businesses and all the business people who believe that the Government’s approach is right. One thing I would not be able to do, however, is to find many businesses that would be prepared to endorse the reckless approach towards a second independence referendum that the Scottish National party is pushing. I cannot think of a single reputable business voice that thinks the priority for Scotland now is constitutional uncertainty and wrenching Scotland out of the partnership for good that is the Union.