The Scottish Conservatives has attacked the SNP for 'overruling' civil servants on a £1m crofting spending announcement.
The Scottish Conservatives have said a senior SNP Minister 'overruled' civil servants who didn’t want to make a press statement on spending for crofters because it breached purdah rules.
The Scottish Conservatives has said the growing scandal has shown that the SNP Government is “mired in sleaze”.
On April 25th, Rural Affairs Secretary Fergus Ewing announced he would be spending £1 million to help crofters in Scotland’s most rural and remote communities build new homes, or make improvements to existing buildings.
However, emails published show that civil servants advised him not to make the announcement because of the election period – but Mr Ewing insisted it go ahead.
Mr Ewing claimed the spending announcement was legitimate because it did not involve councils.
However, guidance states that Ministers should avoid spending announcements that could influence or could be seen to influence voters, particularly in local areas.
'Systematic breaking of rules'
Scottish Conservative MSP for the North East Ross Thomson said: “It is now clear that Nicola Sturgeon’s government indulged in a systematic breaking of the rules prior to last months’ local government elections.
“This is a growing scandal that requires an urgent investigation.
“Mr Ewing was told by civil servants not to make this announcement but ignored them in an attempt to win a few headlines ahead of the local elections.
“Nicola Sturgeon must end her silence over this affair. After ten years in power, her government is now mired in sleaze.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said in a statement: “During the local government election period, Scottish Ministers continued to be responsible for delivering the routine, devolved business of the Scottish Government.
“Announcing offers of grants to crofters is an example of routine business falling within Scottish Ministers’ devolved responsibilities.
“After careful consideration officials concluded that the announcement could proceed on the grounds that the overall funding package had already been announced in March, the grants were being given to individual crofters, and there was no local government involvement in the funding.”
