Row as Blackford’s stepson gets pay rise
THE SNP’s Westminster leader has handed his stepson a whopping pay rise at taxpayers’ expense.
Ian Blackford, who leads the group of SNP MPs, promoted John O’Leary from caseworker to senior caseworker last month with salary of up to £35,465 – £7589 more than before.
The move came just days after MPs were banned from appointing a relative to a post unless they already work for them.
The promotion was criticised by the Scottish Tories. A spokesman said: “The fact that Ian Blackford has decided to give his stepson a substantial pay rise 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 doing this while he still can.”
Blackford beat former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy in Ross, Skye and Lochaber in the May 2015 general election.
Westminster is expected to eventually force MPs who already employ relatives to stop the practice.
Blackford is now one of only three Scottish MPs to employ a relative or “connected party”.
The SNP’s Airdrie and Shotts MP Neil Gray employs brother-in-law Adam Robinson as office manager and fellow Nationalist MP for Argyll and Bute Brendan O’Hara employs his wife Catherine as constituency assistant.
A SNP spokesman said: “Constituency staff are employed in line with IPSA guidelines and according to their skills and experience.”
Blackford was criticised this month for taking cash from a Tory donor before the general election.
He received £3000 towards re-election campaign from millionaire hedge fund owner David Craigen. Blackford also took a £3000 donation from Craigen in 2015.