Boris’s bailout bursts Border balloons’ bubble – John McLellan

Those balloons who manned the border at Berwick in Hazmat suits to shout at people driving north will presumably not be demonstrating outside the King’s Theatre to prevent any of the £1.5bn pledged by the UK Treasury to support the creative industries being spent in Scotland.

It’s a tremendous boost for Scottish arts, and the £97m which should be Scotland’s share will be paid to the Scottish Government so it will be up to SNP ministers to decide how it will be spent. There is no guarantee all of it will go to the creative industries, with £10m having been promised by Economy and Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop last week, but there would be a very high-profile outcry if it did not.

Different parts of the performing arts world have been quick put their hands up, with live music and comedy staking early claims and, with such big figures involved, no-one can blame them for that.

Wherever it goes, it’s crucial that the money is delivered quickly where it’s needed most and it’s incumbent on the UK Government to make sure it’s transferred swiftly and in full to make sure there can be no question where the responsibility for distribution lies.

The symbolism of the UK Government making £97m available to Scottish arts compared to the Scottish Government’s £10m will not be lost on the SNP, and they won’t lose time looking for problems with the way the money is paid and letting the world know if they do.

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