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Humza Yousaf has been accused of “self-indulgence” after spending nearly £200,000 of taxpayers’ money at Cop28 in Dubai.
The First Minister travelled to the climate summit in November 2023, alongside his net zero secretary Mairi McAllan.
The Scottish Government published its full expenses for the trip, which saw Yousaf bring with him a full support team.
The support team cost the taxpayer £8,030.80, with £5,134.66 spent on his hotel, food, drink and travel expenses.
Humza Yousaf has been accused of “self-indulgence” after spending nearly £200,000 of taxpayers money at Cop28 in Dubai
PA
McAllan spent £9,000 bringing her team to Dubai.
A total of 13 SNP officials flew to Dubai for the summit, in addition to three special advisers at a cost to the taxpayer of £58,003.98, taking the total spent on expenses to £80,000.
On top of this, the Scottish government spent more than £106,000 on their Cop28 business programme, which included substantial costs for “business events and networking,” a “marketing campaign” and a “business delegation programme.”
The Scottish Tories criticised the nationalist administration for the spending, saying the “lavish” costs “cannot be justified” during a cost of living crisis.
Shadow cabinet secretary for net zero, energy and transport Douglas Lumsden said: “Hard-pressed Scots will be wondering why they are having to foot such a substantial bill for Humza Yousaf and his entourage to grandstand at COP.
“In addition to their lavish spending on flights and other costs, they also saw fit to shell out over £100,000 on campaigns ahead of going to the summit.
“Humza Yousaf, Mairi McAllan and their advisers would have been better off getting their own house in order before jetting off on this self-indulgent affair.”
He added: “It was rich for them to try and preach about environmental targets when they have repeatedly missed their own in Scotland and have failed to produce an updated climate change plan.
“That is hardly the sort of advice that world leaders will be phoning the SNP to ask about, as Mairi McAllan laughably tried to claim.
The Scottish Government published its full expenses for the trip, which saw Yousaf bring with him a full support team
PA
“At a time when Scots are paying more and getting less due to the disastrous tax-and-axe Budget from the SNP, these costs cannot be justified.”
Meanwhile, Scottish Lib Dem Finance spokesperson Willie Rennie said: “If the Scottish Government are going to send an army of civil servants and special advisers on international excursions they need to publish a statement justifying what was achieved by the trip.
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“These international forums should be about much more than cosy photo calls.”
The SNP claimed the trip was value for money as the costs “delivered a strong return on investment with £64.8 million of forecast export sales reported at this stage and a reach of 1.8 billion exposed to Scottish Net Zero expertise and ambition through our marketing campaign. Our events and networking helped the companies meet new customers and develop new relationships.”
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