SNP electioneering at taxpayers’ expense: They must apologise and repay money now

Documents obtained by the Scottish Conservatives show how the SNP Government plotted a tour of marginal seats at taxpayers' expense.

The Freedom of Information Request – which the SNP Government tried to block before the FoI Commissioner ruled against this move – shows plans to move the Cabinet's 2010 Summer Tour to seats with narrow SNP majorities and one target seat.

The SNP must apologise and repay the money now. The tour cost at least £40,000 of public money.

Murdo Fraser MSP, Scottish Conservative Deputy Leader, said:

"This new information confirms our long-held suspicions that the SNP have misused public funds to carry out clear and blatant electioneering. The SNP have a track record in wasting taxpayers' cash on projects such as the National Conversation and making highly political speeches abroad. This is another case of them abusing their position for political gain.

"The fact their summer cabinet tour happened to take in three marginal SNP seats and one target seat was always more than mere coincidence. It is only right that they pay the money spent on the trip back into the public purse.

"Such callous spending of public money on party political electioneering cannot go unpunished – the SNP must apologise and repay the taxpayers' cash squandered on these party political activities."

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