Tory leadership hopeful Andrea Leadsom has come under fire for describing the difference between university tuition fees north and south of the border as “another nail in the coffin of the Union”.
The SNP said the comments showed she was “itching” to cut Scotland’s budget.
Energy Minister Mrs Leadsom, who is up against Home Secretary Theresa May in the race to be the next prime minister, also referred to the “poor English” subsidising the Scots.
SNP MSP Michael Russell called on both candidates to “make it absolutely clear” they respected the fiscal framework signed up to by the Holyrood and Westminster governments a few months ago.
The Scottish Parliament’s finance committee convener added: “If they fail to do so, people in Scotland will be under no illusions as to what they have in store for our budget.
“We know that elements of the Tory party have for years been itching for the opportunity to hammer Scotland’s budget even further.
“Andrea Leadsom is just the latest senior Tory to raise questions over Scotland’s funding.
“When the choice to be next prime minister is between Andrea Leadsom and someone with the right-wing track record of Theresa May, it’s clear that whoever wins, Scotland will lose.”
In a 2007 blog post – under the heading “the ultimate irony” – Mrs Leadsom wrote: “This really takes the biscuit.
“Free university tuition will apparently be available to all Scottish and EU students by 2009, with the exception of English and Welsh students, who will have to continue to pay.
“Oh, and by the way, the reason we have tuition fees in England was because Labour drummed-up the support of the Scottish MPs to force the bill through parliament.
“Yes, those whose own children will not have to pay in future.
“Well, that’s another nail in the coffin of the Union.”
In another post from May of the same year, she asked why “on earth” Scots would want to “break up the Union”, given the “unbelievable perks”.
Mr Russell said: “The answer staring her right in the face is the approach of right-wing Tory politicians like her, who are intent on dragging Scotland out of the EU against our will.”
This week, Scottish Conservative Leader Ruth Davidson revealed she would be backing Mrs May as she possessed the skills to “unite both the country and the party”.
About 150,000 Tory members will have the final say in the contest, with the result due on September 9.
