David Cameron has given the biggest signal yet that a £400 million investment deal for Tayside and Fife could be threatened by a change of Prime Minister.
Pressed in the House of Commons by Dundee West MP Chris Law, the current Conservative leader, who will step down in September following the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, rolled back from a commitment to the Tay Cities deal.
The agreement would have secured investment for Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross and North East Fife but concerns have already been raised by Scottish Secretary David Mundell about the possibility of the next occupant at Downing Street refusing to cough up the cash.
Mr Cameron said: “I can’t bind the hands of my successor but I will say to any of the candidates that the city deals have been a great success throughout the United Kingdom.
“I think it’s been quite a marked thing that although Scotland has a powerhouse Parliament, they have been popular and successful when they have been tried in Scotland and I will make that clear too.”
SNP politician Mr Law has now vowed to write to the PM and demand a meeting with Scottish Secretary David Mundell in an effort to secure the funding.
He will also meet senior figures in Dundee City Council and push them – alongside Angus, Perth and Kinross and Fife – to pull together and submit a credible bid as soon as possible.
Mr Law said: “The Prime Minister’s response has caused me a lot of anxiety and I will be working very hard to get this back on track.
“There’s a lot of time and money, not just from Dundee but from the other councils, which has been invested already.
“It is not right that Tay residents should suffer from internal Tory battles.”
