John Swinney has denied Nicola Sturgeon should resign as an MSP after she was paid £25,000 to appear as an election night pundit for ITV.
The former first minister raked in the massive fee for one night’s work as she offered her thoughts on the SNP’s disastrous showing at the general election on July 4.
But the Nationalists faced accusations of hypocrisy as one of its most senior members previously demanded Ruth Davidson quit as an MSP after she was paid £7,500 for a similar TV appearance at the 2019 general election.
Angus Robertson, a Scottish Government minister, said at the time it was “another reminder why Ruth Davidson should resign”. The SNP also demanded the then Tory MSP hand the TV fee back.
But Swinney today distanced himself from Robertson’s remarks.
Asked if Nicola Sturgeon should resign as an MSP, Swinney said: “No, I don’t think she should. And I think the call that was made for Ruth Davidson to resign was the wrong call.
“I don’t think we should have been calling for that. We should just let these things take their course. Let folk register them.”
Rona MacKay, an SNP MSP, said in 2020: “Serving politicians who appear on election night broadcasts do so to represent their party – not to pick up a pay cheque.”
The Record first reported how Stugeon declared the payment on the official Register of Interests at the Scottish Parliament. The cash was paid to her firm, Nicola Sturgeon Ltd, by ITN.
Sturgeon was in the ITV studio in London on the night of July 4 to provide analysis of results in Scotland as they were declared. The general election was a disaster for the SNP as it returned MPs in just nine constituencies, while Scottish Labour won 37.
The former first minister also declared £2803.78 of accommodation and the entry stated: “The cost of car travel to and from the studio for rehearsals and the live programme was £329.15 (plus VAT).” The fees and other costs came to over £28,000.
Sturgeon’s appearance on the show annoyed allies of First Minister John Swinney as she appeared to aim digs at the SNP campaign.
She criticised the lack of focus on independence and said it would be the “easy solution” for people to “take refuge in somehow it’s all my fault”.
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