John Swinney has been urged to intervene to stop one of his ministers spending £11,000 of taxpayers’ money on an ‘artist in residence’.
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one → urge → residence
It follows revelations that Hannah Mary Goodlad – the minister for public finance – plans to charge the public purse for a painter, sculptor or musician for her Shetland constituency office to produce materials to convey her aims to the public and media.
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office → follow → public
The proposed appointment has been widely condemned by opponents but Ms Goodlad has defended it as a vital part of being able to ‘communicate effectively and inclusively with constituents’.
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Goodlad → propose → constituents
While each individual MSP is responsible for their own office spending, Mr Swinney has been urged to intervene due to the impact on public finances.
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Swinney → urge → finances
In his programme for government, the First Minister pledged action on public sector reform to bring down the scale and cost of the State.
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Minister → pledge → State
Murdo Fraser, Scottish Conservative culture spokesman, said: ‘If John Swinney has even an ounce of respect for taxpayers’ money, he will tell his colleague to ditch her plans to squander money on hiring someone for this role.
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he → say → role
MSP Hannah Goodlad had announced plans to hire an artist
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Goodlad → announce → artist
It is astonishing that the minister for public finances ever thought this would be a good use of public resources.
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this → think → resources
The SNP have spent two decades wasting money promoting their pet projects, but this really takes the biscuit.
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this → spend → biscuit
‘Swinney should intervene and tell Hannah Mary Goodlad to set an example and avoid leaving the taxpayer to pick up the bill for an artist-in-residence to work for her.’
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artist → intervene → her
Ms Goodlad became an MSP for the first time following May’s Holyrood elections and was made Public Finance Minister in Mr Swinney’s reshuffle following the vote.
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Goodlad → become → vote
In her government role, she has pledged to ‘take a responsible approach’ to public finances and prioritise investment in frontline services.
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she → pledge → services
The full-time artist will join her constituency office in Lerwick, Shetland, for four months.
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artist → join → months
According to the job advert for the role, which comes with an annual salary of £33,000 which works out as £11,000 for the four-month duration, the artist will ‘contribute to and deliver projects exploring policy areas of priority to the MSP through your own artistic practices, to support communication and engagement with constituents’.
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artist → accord → constituents
Max Bannerman, Reform UK MSP for the Highlands and Islands region, said: ‘Hannah Mary Goodlad was elected on the promise to be a Shetland-first MSP, but just five months into the job her ministerial role has inflated her ego beyond belief.
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role → say → belief
The sanctimonious Goodlad became a minister without being put through her paces as an MSP, but now she’s in charge of public finances she’s splashing taxpayer money on an ostentatious nod to Shetlanders.
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she → become → Shetlanders
‘If the First Minister does not intervene, we have to assume John Swinney is permissive of this level of grandiose self-gratification at a time when his government is supposedly looking to ease the nation through a cost-of-living crisis.’
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government → intervene → crisis
Ms Goodlad is also advertising for a part-time member of staff to translate her press releases into the Shetland dialect at a further cost of £12,800 per year.
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Goodlad → advertise → year
Defending her proposed artist in residence role, Ms Goodlad said that the arts, language and culture are important to her and added: ‘A vital role of an MSP is to communicate effectively and inclusively with constituents.
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role → defend → constituents
Sam Taylor, founder of the think-tank These Islands, said: ‘Looking forward to the unveiling of a painting depicting the death of Hannah Mary Goodlad’s leadership ambitions.’
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Taylor → say → ambitions
The SNP has been asked for comment on calls for Mr Swinney to intervene.
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Swinney → ask → calls
The Aporia
