Spending Public Money On Human Shields
If you'd like an example of the SNP's casual approach to spending public money, look no further than Nicola Sturgeon's decision to create two entirely new ministerial posts in her government - for Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater.
Neither of these 'non-jobs' existed in previous SNP administrations and they were created at a time of a cost of living crisis - delivering £100,000+ salaries to the two new minsters plus all the extra staffing and running costs.
Another £1 million or so - who cares?
Humza Yousaf defends the SNP alliance with the Greens as being 'worth its weight in gold', but it's real purpose is to shield SNP (and Green) ministers from votes of no confidence in the Scottish Parliament.
Sack Slater and Ditch the Greens (March 01, 2023)
Green Clowns and Unholy Alliances ()
Lorna Slater is an a ministerial 'non-job' specially created for her so the SNP and Greens together could vote down any future votes of no confidence in Scottish Ministers.
The deposit return scheme is indeed 'clown car stuff' and follows hot on the heels of the car crash over self-ID and gender recognition.
Time for Lorna to be sacked and for the unholy SNP/Green alliance to be dissolved.
Grubby Deals and Cosy Politics (June 28, 2022)
Job Creation and Green Ministers (June 14, 2022)
While 40,000 job losses are expected in the public sector over the next four years it's a veritable boom time for Green jobs in the Scottish Government.
Nicola Sturgeon deliberately created two new ministerial roles out of thin air last year - complete with all the usual trappings of big £100,000 plus salaries, extra staff and chauffeur driven cars.
Now this doesn't look good - it looks as if the Greens have been bought in return for their loyal support on contentious policies such as self-ID and making changes to the Gender Recognition Act.
And it looks especially bad at a time when Scotland's public sector is facing horrendous jobs losses as a result of the latest SNP spending review.
Job Creation and Bloated Government (January 26, 2022)
The Scottish Government now comprises of no less than 27 ministers who are paid a minimum salary of £98,045 (plus pensions benefits) up to the First Minister's salary of £163,229 (plus pension benefits).
25 are drawn from the SNP's 64 MSPs at Holyrood and an extra 2 were invented recently for Green MSPs - jobs which never existed previously and were created out of thin air in September 2021.
Green Non-Jobs Created (January 24, 2022)
Since writing my original post the basic salaries of Scotland's two new Green ministers has grown to £98,045 - a pay rise of 3.4% or an extra £3,224 a year excluding pension benefits.
Not bad for two non-jobs which were previously done by other Scottish Ministers and makes you wonder why the Green Minister for the Circular Economy is being quoted in this ScotGov statement on trans health care?
Scottish Government Minister and Scottish Green Party Co-Leader Lorna Slater said:
“Lengthy waiting times for trans people has a serious impact on their mental health. Protecting their right to essential healthcare is a vital part of our commitment to advancing equality for LGBTI people.
"This framework will improve services for a community that is often marginalised. We must continue to include the voices and expertise of trans people, as well as clinicians, academics, NHS Boards and LGBTI organisations in the work to improve these services.”
New Green Non-Jobs Created (September 02, 2021)
If a job's title leaves you scratching your head as to what it's all about, chances are the job is completely made up, as in the case of Scotland's two new Green ministers who are paid salaries of £94,821 a year - plus pension benefits.
How did the Scottish government manage these areas prior to creating two new ministerial posts?
Well they were carried out by other ministers, of course, whose salaries stay the same - even though they no longer have responsibility for the Circular Economy, for example.
