A Bridge Too Farce

SNP minister says PM’s vanity project could take cash from public services

- Chris McCall

Building a bridge or tunnel between Scotland and Northern Ireland could mean less public spending on schools or hospitals, an SNP minister has claimed.

Holyrood transport secretary Michael Matheson told the Record a “fixed link” between Portpatrick and Larne could end up costing more than £33billion due to its complexity.

The MSP described the concept as a “vanity project” being used by the UK Government to divert attention away from crossborder issues in Northern Ireland caused by Brexit.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has talked up the idea of building a bridge or tunnel across the North Channel, a 23-mile stretch of water.

Tory ministers last year commissioned the chairman of Network Rail, Sir Peter Hendy, to come up with ideas to improve connections between the four home nations.

And due to the physical separation of Northern Ireland to the mainland, the most ambitious proposal being considered is a fixed link to Scotland.