Look into my eyes … you will get a job (and I'll pocket £20,000 courtesy of the taxpayer)

Published on Thursday 4 March 2010 21:39

CELEBRITY hypnotist Paul McKenna is being brought to Scotland at taxpayers' expense to give a motivational talk to unemployed youngsters.

The session with the television star will be held at Hampden Park in Glasgow today and will cost the public purse 20,000.

The unusual event provoked a political storm when it came to light at First Minister's Questions at Holyrood yesterday.

Iain Gray, the Labour leader, questioned whether a session with the hypnotist, who also has a reputation as a self-improvement guru, was an effective strategy for tackling the problem of Scotland's 206,000 unemployed.

According to his website, McKenna specialises in helping people lose weight, increase their wealth, boost their confidence and improve their lives.

He was hired by Skills Development Scotland, a Scottish Government agency, in conjunction with Enterprise Employment, a private training consultancy, and North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire councils.

Mr Gray asked First Minister Alex Salmond: "What is Paul McKenna going to do – hypnotise them into believing that they've got a job and a future, and a chance in life?"

He argued the 20,000 could instead have been invested in creating new apprenticeships and said: "It's Alex Salmond who is the illusionist here, fooling Scotland, failing our young people."

But the First Minister hit back at his Labour rival, joking that the hypnotist should be asked to do an additional course on how to be an opposition leader. "No amount of coaching or training will ever turn Iain Gray into an effective politician," Mr Salmond said.

About 600 disadvantaged, youngsters aged between 16 and 24, are expected to attend the talk by the best-selling author, who bills himself as the "world's leading hypnotist and an expert in the power of the human mind".

At First Minister's Questions, Mr Gray said: "Apparently he'll be handing out signed copies of his best sellers, Instant Confidence, I Can Make You Rich and, of course, the classic I Can Make You Thin."

"Is this really the First Minister's strategy to help our young unemployed?"

Mr Salmond defended the SNP government's record on jobs, arguing that some 16 million was being used to support 7,800 additional apprenticeships in Scotland. The First Minister went on: "Over the next 12 months, the Scottish Government will provide 34,500 training opportunities, 15,000 modern apprenticeships, 14,500 training places and 5,000 new flexible training opportunities."

Later, Mr Salmond's spokesman pointed out that today's event was being supported by North and South Lanarkshire councils, both of which were run by the Labour Party.

"I think Iain Gray has committed an extraordinary gaffe," he added.

Related articles:

Tom Peterkin: Thanks to Paul McKenna, there's a whole new hypnotic charm to FMQs