by DEMOCRAT REPORTER
John Swinney’s entourage of special advisers racked up a huge £4,600 expenses bill in just three months, and two ex-SNP staffers promoted to top taxpayer-funded jobs topped the list of shame. Under the First Minister, the number of politically appointed spinners hit record levels of 18.
Helen Scott was promoted from being an SNP press officer up to a special adviser, going from a party-funded salary to a taxpayer-funded one.
She spent £611.65 on accommodation and £1,467 on expenses. She went from university to working for the SNP, joining as a press officer in 2023 and then being moved up in December last year, tasked with communications around Mr Swinney’s events and supporting his private office.
Second on the list was Olaf Stando, a failed former SNP council candidate who also worked for the SNP before being handed a cool taxpayer-funded salary.
He was re-appointed by Mr Swinney despite potentially breaking election rules in May by posting an image of him from his voting booth, which is a breach of the law.
First Minister John Swinney
Mr Stando failed in an attempt to become an elected councillor in Kirkcaldy but was fast-tracked to join a record number of government civil servants anyway.
He has been left red-faced repeatedly over social media gaffes, including tweeting a GIF about Liz Truss paying condolences to Jimmy Savile, when it was pointed out that Nicola Sturgeon had also done this.
He spent over £1,000 of public cash in just three months on expenses, and is charged with helping create videos for social media for Mr Swinney.
Scottish Conservative MP for Aberdeen South Douglas Lumsden told the Scottish Daily Express: “Hard-pressed Scots will be outraged at the whopping tab that John Swinney’s spin doctors have racked up. These SNP cronies are clearly living it large at the taxpayers’ expense, with the newest member of John Swinney’s Praetorian Guard responsible for half of the staggering amount they’ve splurged. Taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to bankroll the Nationalists’ gravy train. The Scottish Conservatives will always call out this flagrant waste of public money.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Expenses are primarily incurred by Special Advisers for travel and accommodation in supporting the First Minister and Scottish Ministers at events.”
Top of page picture is of “money to burn”.