A recent report by The Times has revealed a “festering culture of secrecy” within the Scottish National Party (SNP), following the £33,000 salary boost given to a former Westminster leader, Angus Robertson, without making it public. The SNP, which won a landslide victory in the 2015 general election, decided to use the same model as the Leader of the Opposition to enhance Robertson’s salary, supposedly to reflect his position as party leader. However, what is astonishing is that senior figures in the SNP, including some party heavyweights in Edinburgh, were not informed of this wage increase.
The boost was funded using short money, a type of taxpayer funding provided to opposition parties based on the number of seats and votes they have secured. The fact that Robertson’s salary was increased by £33,207, equivalent to that of a junior minister at the time, raises questions about why this was not registered publicly. Furthermore, it is puzzling that the same party that is currently facing scrutiny over the handling of over £600,000 in donations earmarked for independence campaigning is now being accused of maintaining a secretive culture within its own ranks.
Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, Jackie Baillie, has called for urgent clarification on why the payment was never registered and why senior figures in the SNP went to such extreme lengths to keep it a secret not just from the public but also from other figures in the party. This situation is a stark reminder of the SNP’s reputation for arrogance and sleaze, and it is clear that Scotland deserves better.
Jackie Baillie (Via Jackie Baillie/Twitter)
In response to the allegations, the SNP has claimed that senior leadership remuneration was pegged below comparative UK Government and opposition positions, but this explanation does little to address the concerns raised by Baillie and The Times. The fact remains that Robertson’s salary was boosted using public money, but this was not declared publicly. It is unclear why the SNP chose to maintain secrecy around this matter, especially considering its own reputation for transparency.
The situation highlights the need for greater accountability and transparency within the SNP and in Scottish politics as a whole. The party’s handling of donations and external funding is already under scrutiny, and this latest development only adds to the public’s sense of mistrust and discontent. It is time for the SNP to demonstrate that it is committed to governance and transparency, rather than simply paying lip service to these values.
As the investigation into the party’s financial practices continues, it is essential that the SNP takes immediate action to address the concerns raised by Baillie and The Times. The party must provide clear and transparent explanations for its actions and decisions, and it must ensure that public money is spent in a responsible and accountable manner. Anything less would be unacceptable and would only serve to reinforce the perception that the SNP is a party riddled with secrecy and corruption.
