Anger boils over foreign relations Budget rise

Nicola Sturgeon has come under fire for raising the money spent on international relations by £3.5 million when frontline services have been axed.

Opponents claim much of the Budget cash will be used for foreign visits, which have led to the First Minister promoted as “Queen of Scots” on the world stage.

The external relations budget of the Scottish Government will rise by £3.5m in just two years to £17.3m.

Labour’s Edinburgh councillor Scott Arthur, who vented his anger over the increase on Twitter, said: “It’s shameful that at a time when essential services across our capital are being cut, the SNP elite can find extra money to promote themselves on the world stage.

“How do the poorest benefit from Nicola Sturgeon promoting herself as ‘Queen of Scots’ overseas?”

Ms Sturgeon appeared under the banner “Queen of Scots” as she was interviewed by journalist Tina Brown at the Women in the World conference in New York earlier this year.

Tory economy spokesman Dean Lockhart said: “It’ s staggering that th es np have chosen to increase their international relations budget while raiding the pockets of hard-working Scottish families.”