SNP asks which stars danced to Labour tune

Published on Monday 30 March 2009 22:47

WHEN the singer Sandi Thom declared last weekend that she would not perform again for the Scottish Government after a row over her expenses, many people thought that was the end of the saga.

But The Scotsman can reveal that the war of words escalated yesterday as outraged Scottish Nationalists sought to avenge the attack on one of their most high-profile supporters.

The Glasgow East SNP MP, John Mason, has put down 15 questions, one for each UK government department, to find out which actors, musicians and other performers they have employed over the past five years.

The questions appear to be in response to one from Labour MSP Lord George Foulkes, which revealed that Ms Thom, who hails from Alex Salmond's Banff and Buchan constituency, was paid almost 10,000 in expenses by the Scottish Government.

The list included a flat-rate fee of 3,000 for a St Andrew's Day event in 2007.

In 2008, the Scottish Government paid a 860 hotel bill for the luxury George Hotel and 581.75 for breakfast and refreshments when she performed for another St Andrew's Day event in Edinburgh and costs for attending the First Minister's Christmas card launch.

Flights for Ms Thom, her band and tour manager cost another 1,440.53, while she also received 404 for car hire and there was an agency fee of 750.

At the launch of the First Minister's Christmas card at Duff House in Aberdeenshire, she was paid an agency fee of 1,000 and transport costs of 1,478.30.

Ms Thom has appeared on SNP election literature and sang a duet of Caledonia with Mr Salmond, whom she describes as "a great guy and fantastic leader".

Labour accused the SNP of giving Ms Thom "Scottish Government kickbacks" for the favours she had done them in the past.

The SNP have denied that the questions from Mr Mason were an act of revenge and said the fact they were tabled yesterday, after the Sandi Thom furore, was "just coincidence".

A party spokeswoman said: "This is just part of Mr Mason's ongoing inquiry into UK government spending. He has put down 56 questions so far."

However, party insiders told The Scotsman on Friday that similar questions would be tabled in Westminster and there would be a trawl of the previous Labour-led Scottish Executive payments for celebrity help with events.

And the official SNP line failed to convince opponents who accused the SNP of "lacking imagination" in trying to find a way to hit back at Labour.

Lord Foulkes said he hoped that Mr Mason received answers more quickly than he did. His question was supposed to be answered in 20 days, but took almost four months.

"The fact is that they delayed the answer because it was so embarrassing," he said. "Alex Salmond obviously thought he could get away with this, and it has angered them that they could not."

He also pointed out that the SNP have recently attacked him for putting down so many questions and costing the public purse thousands. But, at an average cost of 149 per question, Mr Mason's trawl for celebrities will cost more than 2,000.

"It really is hypocritical of the SNP," said Lord Foulkes.