Row as SNP MP’S step-son in line for payrise
Blackford’s relative eligible for salary boost of more than £7,500
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has been criticised for giving his step-son a taxpayer-funded promotion that makes him eligible for a payrise of more than £7,500.
John O’leary began working for the MP shortly after he won the Ross, Skye and Cromarty seat from Charles Kennedy in 2015.
According to Mr Blackford’s House of Commons register of interests, Mr O’leary’s job title has just been upgraded from “caseworker” to “senior caseworker”. Under Commons rules, the change means Mr O’leary is now eligible for a salary of up to £35,465 – an increase of £7,589 on what he was previously entitled to.
The promotion came in the same month as the introduction of a ban on MPS employing relatives, unless they already work for them.
In the future, the ban is expected to be extended to include existing MPS who give jobs to members of their family.
A Scottish Conservative spokesman said: “The fact that Ian Blackford has decided to give his step-son a substantial payrise like this will raise questions.
“With laws coming into place that will mean MPS can no longer hire family members, people will start to wonder if Blackford is attempting to line the pockets of his relative while he still can.”
Mr Blackford’s register of interests had already caused controversy after it revealed that the Ross, Skye and Cromarty MP received money from multi-millionaire Conservative donor David Craigen.
Mr Blackford received £3,000 for his general election campaign – despite having previously criticised “callous Tories” over welfare cuts.
He has also faced criticism for refusing to give up two jobs outside politics which earn him nearly £50,000 a year.
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority announced in March this year that MPS would be banned from employing relatives from the next general election. At that point, the next contest was expected to be in 2020.
The snap election called by Theresa May brought the new rule into force for new MPS and those who do not already employ relatives. It is expected that the practice of employing relatives will be phased out altogether in the future.
Other Scottish MPS to employ members of their family are the SNP’S Neil Gray of Airdrie and Shotts, and his fellow Nationalist Brendan O’hara, of Argyll and Bute.
Mr Gray employs his brother-in-law Adam Robinson as office manager. Mr O’hara employs his wife Catherine as constituency assistant.
Asnpspokesmansaid:“constituency staff are employed in line with IPSA guidelines, and according to their skills and experience.”