Trip to US a ‘jolly’ funded by taxpayers, say Tories

NATIONALISTS have been accused of using taxpayers’ money to fund a ‘jolly’ in the United states.

Four MPs have flown out to New York to take part in scotland Week celebrations, which culminates in a Tartan Day parade led by the actor Tommy Flanagan.

Tasmina Ahmed-sheikh, Joanna Cherry, Paul Monaghan and Corri Wilson all met up with Nicola sturgeon in New York, with their travel, accommodation and subsistence set to be covered by public money handed to opposition parties to carry out their parliamentary duties.

All four MPs posed for pictures with Miss sturgeon on Thursday during a cocktail reception hosted by the saint Andrew’s society of the state of New York at the Racquet and Tennis Club in Manhattan.

Miss Ahmed-sheikh said the MPs would be using the trip to ‘mark the anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath and promote and celebrate scotland Week’.

she also posted pictures with Miss Wilson and Mr Monaghan in the lavish private members’ club Norwood, a five-storey club popular among members of the creative industries. A scottish Tory spokesman said: ‘Voters would rather the Nationalists used public money to improve the lives of constituents, not boost their photo albums.’

An SNP spokesman said: ‘They will be holding talks with representatives from UN Women, UNDP [UN Development Programme] and the UN youth envoy discussing work on gender and equalities, people living with disabilities, and international youth engagement.’