Wages of spin
Nicola’s growing army of advisers handed pay rises of up to £20,000 – and YOU pick up bill
NICOLA STURGEON’S army of trusted aides have been rewarded for their loyalty – with inflationbusting pay rises.
Overall, the First Minister’s team of 14 spin doctors cost Scottish taxpayers more than £1million last year, new figures show.
Notably, one special adviser has been handed a taxpayer-funded pay rise of up to £20,000 – and is now paid more than three times the salary of the average Scot.
Last night the Scottish Government said it could not comment on individuals’ salaries.
But analysis by this newspaper shows that overall the Scottish Government’s spin team cost Scottish taxpayers £1,064,405 in 2019 – £155,098 more than in 2018, when the bill was £909,307.
There is only one special adviser in the lowest pay band, who gets between £39,445 and £52,904.
There are seven, however, who are receiving remuneration of between £52,905 and £66,317, and five in the band above that, earning between £65,017 and £88,504.
Meanwhile, in 2019, data shows one special adviser who was bumped up into the top salary band between £86,965 and £104,462, up from a maximum of £83,393 in 2018. It is understood that the bumper pay boost – which at its minimum saw a jump of more than £3,000 and at its maximum, an increase of more than £20,000 – was given to the First Minister’s Chief of Staff, Liz Lloyd.
The startling figures, laid bare in a parliamentary question and answer session last month, show special advisers being paid far more than the average Scottish annual wage, which is £26,000.
Last night critics called for the Government to use taxpayers’ money more wisely. Scottish Conservative chief whip Miles Briggs said: ‘If it is indeed correct that the
First Minister’s senior adviser has had a recent pay increase, then the public will be keen to know why this has been the case.
‘With over a million pounds of the public purse being spent on special advisers, it is clear the SNP need to address their priorities on what money is spent on.’
‘Scottish taxpayers expect the Scottish Government to spend people’s taxes on the people’s priorities like improving schools, hospitals and infrastructure – not Nicola Sturgeon’s army of advisers.
‘That is of particular importance as we recover from the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.’
The rising costs come after Alex Salmond’s SNP cut back on special advisers when he came to power in 2007. He slashed the number of cabinet secretaries and junior ministers and reduced special advisers to nine. That figure has increased by five under Ms Sturgeon.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Special advisers’ pay arrangements are consistent with the Scottish Government’s public sector pay policy.
‘Since the publication of the special adviser pay ranges in 2018, a job evaluation review was carried out to ensure that job roles were assigned to the correct pay band and pay range.
‘Special advisers are now eligible for annual pay reviews and pay progression within their pay range, bringing them into line with other Scottish Government staff.’
‘Spend people’s taxes on the people’s priorities’