Minister accused over prize in auction
AN SNP minister has been accused of breaking parliament rules by ‘flogging’ access to Holyrood in an auction held by lobbyists.
Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing offered ‘hospitality with a tour’ and a bottle of Scottish parliament whisky as part of an auction by the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA).
But Edward Mountain, Scottish Conservative candidate for Inverness and Nairn, said: ‘I welcome Fergus’s work for the Scottish Gamekeepers Association but I don’t think selling tours of parliament, albeit for charity, is in the spirit of what members should be doing.
‘I would call upon Fergus to examine whether his actions are appropriate, and indeed whether he has breached, in any shape or form, the Scottish ministerial code.’
The silent auction was advertised in a newsletter from the SGA, which listed May 7 as the closing date for bids. The auction also features on its website.
The description of the lot reads: ‘Hospitality with a tour of Holyrood with Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy Fergus Ewing MSP, together with a bottle of Scottish parliament fine malt whisky.’
The ‘guide price’ is put at £50, and the lot was ‘donated by Mr Fergus Ewing MSP’. He is also listed as the contact.
Labour MSP Neil Findlay, who has campaigned for tighter rules about lobbying, said: ‘Irrespective of the organisation, members should not be flogging parliamentary tours, which are free anyway, in return for donations. All MSPs should be very careful in this regard, but ministers even more so.’
The code of conduct for Scottish parliament members sets out that no perception should ever be given of people ‘buying access to MSPs’.
It says: ‘Members may participate in events unless they are aware, or become aware, that the organisers are promoting the event on the basis that those paying to attend the event are “buying” influence over MSPs or that they can expect to receive better subsequent access to, or treatment by, MSPs than would be accorded to any other person or organisation.
‘Members should exercise their judgment in deciding whether it is appropriate to participate in an event and if they are uncertain, can seek advice from the Standards Clerks. Where an event involves support for a charitable purpose, including fundraising, members should ensure that they comply with the SPCB’s [Scottish Parliamentary Charity Body] charities policy.’
The Scottish parliament has strict rules about the use of its resources for fundraising, stating that ‘fundraising (other than for PoppyScotland) is not permitted on the parliamentary campus’ apart from within an MSP’s own office, such as selling a charity calendar.
The rules also say offering lunch or dinner in the members’ restaurant for charities or a good cause should be done ‘subject to members exercising judgment about the appropriateness of individual requests’.
In 2010, then First Minister Alex Salmond had to cancel four Holyrood lunch appointments which had been sold at auction to raise funds for the SNP. A lunch and tour with Nicola Sturgeon was also offered in the auction.
Asked about Mr Ewing’s role in the auction, a Scottish parliament spokesman said: ‘Members are expected to exercise their judgment as to the appropriateness of the activity on a case-by-case basis.’
Asked if he had broken the rules, the spokesman said: ‘Any breach would be a matter for the SPCB.’
An SNP spokesman said: ‘Mr Ewing was asked to donate an item for a charity fundraising event. He is aware that entry and tours of the Scottish parliament building are free and made clear that he would provide this for free. Instead, he offered to donate a bottle of parliament whisky – as many MSPs do for raffles and auctions – and suggested the guide price of £50 for the whisky.
‘It was unfortunate that the organisers listed the whisky with the free tour he was offering. That tour has not taken place.’
‘With a bottle of fine malt whisky’