Exclusive: The First Minister must be taking tips from selfie-loving Nicola Sturgeon as he bought some canvas pictures of him giving various speeches around Scotland.
First Minister John Swinney giving a speech at Playfair Library in Edinburgh, to representatives from organisations across the public and private sector, one of the canvases he has purchased
John Swinney has been condemned for wasting taxpayer cash on purchasing massive canvas prints – to hang up around his ministerial offices at the Scottish Parliament. The First Minister has been accused of “building a shrine” to himself to brag about his achievements – or lack of – while leading the Scottish Executive.
His predecessor was nicknamed “Showbiz” Sturgeon due to her love of taking selfies with famous figures. She enjoyed pictures with the likes of Greta Thunberg, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Alan Cumming.
And it seems like he has continued this tradition by purchasing a series of canvas prints which have been hung up and given pride of place within the Scottish Parliament building. According to a freedom of information request, Mr Swinney has bought six of these, using public cash.
They are all of speeches and visits made by the First Minister including delivering his “A Budget for Hope” speech at the University of Edinburgh, visiting Harland and Wolff, visiting a school, and visiting the Glasgow Botanic Gardens. The others are from a meeting with farmers, and then a trip to the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music.
In total, the government spent £588.94 in total on the canvas prints. Five prints cost £89.99 each with the fifth costing £138.99. They were all installed in Ministerial offices, with five put up in the waiting room and one being hung up in Mr Swinney’s private office – with his Budget speech taking pride of place.
The Scottish Tories blasted this spend, accusing the First Minister over putting his vanity over the struggles of hard-pressed Scots. Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser told the Scottish Daily Express: “Scots facing rising bills under the SNP will be furious that John Swinney has billed them for glossy photos of himself.
“Does his vanity know no bounds? Taxpayers shouldn’t have to fork out so he can build a shrine to himself. This is just another example of the SNP wasting public money. John Swinney should pay for his own self-portraits next time.”
The government is allowed to spend taxpayers cash on furniture for ministerial offices and staff – with this stretching to pictures as well. It has went on a publicity blitz in recent months in a bid to prove that the SNP are “delivering” for the country, including a glossy TV advert.
We previously told how Mr Swinney green lit an advert which portrayed Scotland as “kind and welcoming. It has aired on TV and was posted on the Scottish Government’s social media accounts with the caption: “Scotland is more than just a name, it’s a way of living and being. Kind, welcoming and giving.” It was a collection of scenes from the country, with actors proclaiming that it is very Scottish that “when things feel divided, we look out for others.”
There was a huge cost of producing this advert, with £144,287 spent on it. “This cost includes rates for services procured by the Creative Services agency, and approved by the Scottish Government.” It was branded another example of Scottish exceptionalism that the SNP like to brag about.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “These prints show the First Minister meeting the people of Scotland, whose priorities guide and drive the work of the Scottish Government.”
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