THE leader of Scottish Borders Council (SBC) says she was “delighted” to hear Michael Gove’s comments on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show.

When Mr Marr interviewed the Minister for the Cabinet Office on Sunday (May 9), Mr Gove suggested the UK Government is keen to work closely with local authorities in Scotland – including SBC.

SBC leader Shona Haslam, also of the Conservatives, said: "I am absolutely delighted that the UK Government will be supporting councils in this way."

When Mr Gove was interviewed, he said that as part of the UK Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ project, Whitehall could work directly with Scottish councils to provide funding.

When asked by Mr Marr if these plans were aiming to bypass the Scottish Government and put the Scottish Parliament "back in its box", Mr Gove said: "Certainly not.

"We want to work with both.

"I think it's critically important we work with the Scottish Government and with local government as well.

"We have already seen opportunities to do just that.

"When we announced that we were going to work with both Holyrood, but also local authorities, I think it was the leader of Glasgow council – an SNP politician – who welcomed that, along with the leaders of Aberdeen council, Borders council and so on.

"To my mind, it's an example of 'Team UK' working together in everyone's interests."

‘Levelling Up’ is a Westminster White Paper, to be published later this year, which "will focus on challenges including improving living standards, growing the private sector and increasing and spreading opportunity".

Mrs Haslam told the Peeblesshire News: "I am very excited about the opportunity to work with the UK Government on funding proposals and have already had several useful meetings with our MPs for this area and the Scotland Office.

“I would encourage anyone with ideas for local projects to contact their local councillor to discuss options.”

In an interview with The Sunday Times, Mr Gove said: "We will be working with the Scottish government, but it’s also true we will be talking directly to local government to see what we can do.

"Whether that’s in the Borders, Shetland, Aberdeenshire, we will be talking direct.”