SCOTTISH Labour have been criticised on social media for conflating civil servants with the SNP amid a row over Government credit card spending.
On Tuesday, it was revealed that more than £14 million in tax payers cash was spent on credit card transactions by Scottish civil servants over a three-year period.
The breakdown, obtained by Scottish Labour, covered purchases between September 2019 and August 2022, and included 58,751 individual spending entries.
The pro-Union party used the figures to criticise the Scottish Government’s spending, in particular former first minister Nicola Sturgeon’s VIP airport travel, which reportedly totalled £9898.
Other purchases by senior staff included yoga classes, nail polish, and £4182 for hospitality and hotel accommodation at the five-star Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire. The spending was related to a women in sports event held in September 2019.
Scottish Labour used the figures to attack the SNP, but were criticised on social media for appearing to conflate the ruling party with Scottish Government civil servants, who were in charge of the spending.
Sharing the Daily Record’s article covering the spending, on Twitter, Scottish Labour wrote: “The SNP has charged the public purse for: VIP treatment at airports, Nail polish, Driving tests, and more…”
A number of social media users and SNP members were quick to criticise the party's framing of the story.
“Shameful behaviour,” one social media user wrote, “Calling civil service expenses ‘SNP’ expenses implies partiality on the civil service which is categorically untrue.
“This needs no less than an unreserved apology from Sarwar in Holyrood.”
Former Glasgow SNP councillor Mhairi Hunter weighed in, adding: “They're still at it, describing civil servants as the SNP.
“It's quite weird really because they are probably in the best political position they have been in for years but seem determined to p*** everyone off by treating them like fools. On you go, lads…”
Another said simply: “Do you mean civil servants? That's not the SNP.”
While Jenny Constable added: “Civil Servants are not the SNP. This is spiteful and misleading.”
One user wrote: “This is not the win you believe it to be, it’s petty and desperate.”
Meanwhile, another social media user pointed out that civil servants in Labour-run Wales had racked up £800,000 on credit cards, including spending £8000 on a plush meal at a top New York City restaurant.
They said: “And the Labour party paid 8 grand for a meal, with taxpayer's money. Labour trying to take the moral high ground. Really 8 grand on a meal.”
The total spent on the cards revealed by Scottish Labour amounted to £14.2 million in the three-year period.
Michael Marra (pictured below), Scottish Labour's finance spokesperson, said the figures showed the spending habits of an "arrogant and entitled government with no regard for tax payers".
“The SNP government is frittering away public money on frivolous payments and VIP treatment while services are stretched to breaking point," he said.
“The SNP must end the financial mismanagement that has plagued their government and start delivering for Scotland.”
The procurement cards also purchased a staff member’s driving theory test, China crockery for a meeting room, a £27 “home disco” from eBay and £272 on “wellington boots for inspections”.
A variety of books were also purchased, including six copies of a book of speeches by Sturgeon and 21 copies of How To Run A Government So That Citizens Benefit And Taxpayers Don’t Go Crazy.
The vast majority of items, however, included everyday purchases for civil servants working from home during the Covid-19 lockdown, including computer monitors.
The Scottish Government said the spending is used to "support government officials" during their work including training, catering, room hire and one-off supplies.
“The cards are not for personal expenditure and there are robust authorisation and regular auditing arrangements are in place to monitor their use," a spokesperson added.
