New rug, curtains and chairs... that’s set you back £10,000!
Fresh decor bill for just ONE of Nicola’s offices
MORE than £10,000 of taxpayers’ money was lavished on a rug, curtains and chair coverings for Nicola Sturgeon’s Holyrood office.
The First Minister carried out a refurbishment of her Scottish parliament base last summer, buying a series of bespoke items to decorate the space.
The plush office – one of many used by Miss Sturgeon – had not been decorated in more than a decade, according to the Scottish Government. But critics have raised concerns over the costly upgrade to ‘an office that isn’t used full time’.
As well as her Holyrood office, Miss Sturgeon also has bases at St Andrews House, her official residence at Bute House, and her constituency office in Govanhill, Glasgow.
Figures, released by the Scottish Government, show that Miss Sturgeon spent £10,127 of taxpayers’ money on the office upgrade in 2018.
A breakdown, obtained under freedom of information legislation, shows that £1,760 was spent on ‘reupholstery and repainting’ of three chairs and a sofa. The items were ‘showing signs of wear and tear’, according to officials.
The fabric for the upholstery work was bought from Bute Fabrics. The upmarket company has also provided fabrics for the Edinburgh Grand hotel, The Fairmont St Andrews and the Theatre Royal in Glasgow.
A further £1,419 was spent on a rug from Turnberry Rug Works. As well as luxury wool and silk rugs, the firm also provides bespoke items.
Miss Sturgeon also bought new curtains to replace ‘worn’ curtains at a cost of £1,392 for the fabric alone. A further £625 was spent on making up the curtains, bought from Edinburgh firm Hatti Pattisson, which also sells bright artwork and lampshades.
Eight ‘worn meeting table chairs’ were also replaced. Miss Sturgeon spent £1,371 on leather from Muirhead Fine Scottish Leather plus £445 per chair to reupholster them.
A Scottish Conservative spokesman said: ‘Many Scots will think that’s a lot of money to upgrade an office that isn’t used full time. Between book clubs and interior design, no wonder Sturgeon hasn’t had time to improve Scotland’s declining education performance – allegedly her number one priority.’
The FOI response also revealed that blinds were installed in Miss Sturgeon’s St Andrew’s House office in 2016 at a cost of £551.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘For the first time in ten years the Scottish Government has refurbished and repaired furniture and other fittings showing signs of wear and tear in the First Minister’s office, where she regularly receives international visitors, business figures and members of the public.’