Want to lobby the First Minister? Send a £10,000 cheque to the SNP

Published on Sunday 2 September 2007 00:06

THE SNP was last night plunged into a cash-for-access row after a Scotland on Sunday investigation revealed the party is selling time with First Minister Alex Salmond and senior ministers in return for payments worth thousands of pounds.

SNP chiefs are charging companies almost 10,000 a time for a series of highly prized meetings with Salmond and other senior party figures at the party's conference in Aviemore next month. A private dinner with finance secretary John Swinney is also being touted, with seats being charged at up to 950, swelling the party coffers by as much as 42,500.

A Scotland on Sunday reporter, posing as a public affairs consultant with clients in the energy sector, yesterday contacted a senior SNP conference official with responsibility for organising the event.

The official declared that companies which stump up the cash will not only be able to listen to ministers, but will also be able to put their case to them and discuss their plans.

The revelations last night prompted accusations the SNP was taking cash in return for access to ministers. Opposition parties claimed the SNP was effectively "selling the First Minister's time" to boost its coffers.

The SNP defended its methods, saying they are no different from those of other parties.

The details of the SNP's fundraising bid were laid out in a 'Commercial Opportunities Pack', which the SNP has sent to companies, trade associations and charities. Eight so-called 'Premier Fringe Events' are on offer, at which either Salmond or the deputy leader, Nicola Sturgeon, are booked to speak. Businesses are invited to pay between 8,500 and 9,500 to sponsor the event.

Our undercover reporter was told by Ian McCann, the SNP's chief clerk, that while Salmond's events had already been booked up, other ministers were still available. McCann said the Energy Minister, Jim Mather, the Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead, and the Environment Minister, Mike Russell, could offer a speech. He added: "It is an opportunity to sort of set out your stall as to what you do and who you are and such like and there is chance to discuss that with the politicians and the delegates as well."

The party is also offering a private dinner with Swinney on the opening day of the conference. Its pack declares: "We offer this opportunity to all corporate businesses to join him and other SNP parliamentarians... to discuss any topic." McCann added: "It is a good opportunity for people to hear what our plans are."

The SNP declares in its pack that it "cannot and will not offer meetings with ministers, the party leadership or senior party personnel in exchange for sponsorship". And asked whether he could arrange a one-to-one meeting with Salmond, McCann said he could not. But he added: "If people are up there as observers for a couple of days, there is a fair chance they can just buttonhole him at any point and say we are here or we are doing this fringe meeting, nice to meet you, etc etc."

The former health minister, Labour MSP Andy Kerr, said: "It looks like cash for access. The SNP is essentially selling the First Minister and ministers' time at their party conference, and the profits are going into their party funds. Government ministers' time should not be for sale. And the SNP should not be profiting from their government status."

A spokesman for the Scottish Lib Dems said:

"If they are granting access to ministers then they are sailing very close to the wind. We have learnt the lesson from Tony Blair over 'cash for honours' that any perception of inappropriate behaviour by government ministers will be harshly punished by voters. "

Margo MacDonald, the former Nationalist MSP who became an independent after falling out with the party, said: "No company should be able to buy the services of the First Minister or his deputy and that is what is happening in this case. It's trying to buy their time. Scotland is a small country and the government has to be very careful about allowing themselves to be influenced by companies, and that is how it will be seen. I'm very, very disappointed by this.

"I know I have my disagreements with Alex Salmond, but I thought he had been doing really well until now and I thought his ministers were doing pretty well too."

The row comes a year after the SNP attacked Labour over similar cash-for-access claims after it emerged Labour was also selling access to party leaders.

Westminster's Public Administration Select Committee is preparing to conduct an inquiry into the lobbying industry.

One member of the PASC, Gordon Prentice MP, said last night: "Over the years there has been increasing concern about the activities of lobbyists who seek to influence political parties.

"This question of lunches and dinners at party political conferences is one area which our inquiry will look at. There is nothing wrong with lobbyists, businessmen and pressure groups seeking to make their views known to ministers and politicians. The question is about transparency so that everyone knows what is going on and that it is above board."

An SNP spokesperson said: "This ludicrous and contrived story is entirely without foundation. Sponsored fringe events quite properly provide SNP staff support in terms of catering, publicity in the conference brochure, a venue for the event, and a speaker relevant to the nature of the event.

"Our conference commercial pack specifically states that the SNP cannot and will not offer meetings with ministers, the party leadership or senior party personnel in exchange for sponsorship.

"These entirely open arrangements are available to everyone publicly in the SNP's brochure.

"When a reporter tried to use underhand means to ask for private access, he was given a firm rebuff by an SNP official along the lines of the policy stated in the conference material.

"All parties have events of this nature at their conferences, but we make it absolutely clear in our sponsorship pack that private meetings are not available."