SNP spin doctors’ hefty pay rise

NICOLA Sturgeon’s team of spin doctors have been given a bumper pay rise.

The First Minister’s special advisers received the boost following an internal review – with ‘resultant pay rises’ backdated to October of last year.

The 14 aides cost taxpayers more than £1million last year – but this figure is likely to soar after the rises were signed off.

Officials said a ‘pay structure review and job evaluation’ took place early this year, which triggered the increases.

Last year, one adviser to the First Minister was handed a taxpayer-funded pay rise of about £20,000, meaning they were earning up to £104,462 a year. The figures, published last December, show the total overall cost of the spin team to taxpayers was £1,064,405 – up by £155,098 on 2018.

The latest figures will push that figure even higher.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: ‘Such pay rises will be a slap in the face to the thousands of public sector workers now facing a pay freeze.’

Scottish Conservative chief whip Miles Briggs said: ‘The public will be keen to know why [the SNP] think it is right that pay rises for them are rubber-stamped at a time when they are losing their jobs and thousands remain at risk.’

Graeme Dey, Minister for Parliamentary Business, said: ‘To put special advisers’ pay arrangements on a consistent footing with other SG [Scottish Government] civil servants, a pay structure review and job evaluation exercise was undertaken.’

Last year’s figures show seven aides received between £52,905 and £66,317, with five in the £65,017 to £88,504 band.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Details of the number of special advisers and pay rates will be published shortly.’