The SNP has been blasted by critics for blowing public cash on international offices (Image: Getty)
The SNP is facing backlash for offering a salary of ￡83,000 to a new boss for their new office in the US.
Critics say the role at the Scottish Government’s “embassy” shows their “skewed priorities” as taxes in Scotland rise and public services in the UK struggle with low budgets. The SNP has nine overseas offices in countries including China.
The current chief of the Washington office, Chris Thomson, is leaving as his contract is coming to an end. Scottish Conservative external affairs spokesman Donald Cameron said: “While Scotland’s businesses, taxpayers and public services are reeling from Shona Robison’s disastrous Budget, this lucrative job ad perfectly illustrates the SNP’s skewed priorities.
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“Brutal cuts may have been inflicted on Scotland’s essential services by Ministers but, of course, the SNP still found extra cash for the constitution and external affairs budget to promote their independence obsession.
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“The successful applicant for this will not only enjoy a generous salary but will be spared the punitive income tax rates their employer has imposed on Scots.”
The Scottish Government’s new chief in Washington will be paid between ￡83,328 and ￡84,456 and will benefit from “a Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27 per cent”. The post is a three-year contract.
The SNP has upped its budget for the overseas offices by 12 percent. It has increased the budget for its network of hubs by over ￡1million in two years.
In 2022-23, the figure was ￡6,823,000. This then rose to ￡7,004,000. It is now set to reach ￡7,824,000 for all nine offices, an increase of ￡820,000 when compared to the year prior.
One of the biggest is the Brussels office. This year it had a budget of ￡2.5 million and 17 staff including 11 classed as “diplomatic”.
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The new chief will "work with communities of interest across the US political scene", as well as ‘"developing networks in target State Governments" from the Scottish Government office, in the British Embassy in Washington, the job description.
The new embassy boss will "represent the Scottish Government, including managing the relationship with the UK Government at post," and advise the "UK diplomatic mission to the US" on devolved and reserved policies that "impact on Scotland".
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The head of the Washington office role is a time limited post and the recruitment process for appointing Mr Thomson’s replacement is ongoing."
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