Nicola’s new economy tsar on £192k... for 8 days a month
A BUSINESSMAN appointed to a new role advising the SnP Government on the economy will be paid an ‘eye-watering’ £192,000 salary for working eight days a month.
Mark logan, former boss of flights comparison site Skyscanner, has been hired as the Scottish Government’s ‘chief entrepreneur’.
he will work eight days a month, at a rate of £2,000 per day.
Scottish labour chief whip rhoda Grant said: ‘With the Scottish Government facing a £2.1billion black hole and thousands of Scots facing a cost-of-living crisis, the need for financial probity cannot be overstated.
‘encouraging entrepreneurship is vital to stimulating our economy, but the eye-watering wages paid to this new appointment will raise eyebrows across the country.
‘it is about time the SnP focused on creating jobs in the real world – not the government payroll.’
The Scottish Government has previously been criticised when it emerged that Tim hair, who was hired as ‘turnaround director’ at the state-owned Ferguson shipyard, received total remuneration, including fees, expenses and VAT, of £790,000 in 2020, six times the First Minister’s salary. The new chief entrepreneur role has been created for an initial term of two years. its remit includes helping Scottish entrepreneurs and startup firms, working in the education system, improving diversity in new businesses, and advising ministers on the public sector. Former labour MSP neil Findlay, now a lobbyist who represents trade unions involved in public sector pay disputes, said: ‘The same ministers who appointed him tell classroom assistants, cleaners and bin workers they have to accept below-inflation pay increases.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘This is a vitally important post with a number of responsibilities to deliver higher levels of sustainable growth in the Scottish economy.
‘The remuneration reflects the experience, expertise and knowledge that the Chief entrepreneur will bring to the role. The strength of our public services including remuneration of public sector workers will rely on the Scottish economy outperforming the last decade. The importance of this role cannot be overstated in supporting that.’
Mr logan said: ‘i am looking forward to working... with our business community to boost entrepreneurialism across the economy. There are so many innovative enterprises across Scotland, and part of the task ahead is to provide the best possible environment in which they can thrive.
‘A still greater opportunity is to free the entrepreneurial potential of our people, and ensure every citizen has equal access to that opportunity.’