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The SNP has been accused of having “skewed priorities” after offering an £83,000 salary for someone to head up their new mini-embassy in the US.
The party has nine overseas offices, which are treated like alternative “embassies”.
The current chief od the Washington Office, Chris Thomson, is preparing to leave the role, meaning the party is advertising for someone to fill the upcoming vacancy.
But hitting out at the party, Scottish Conservative external affairs spokesperson Donald Cameron said: “While Scotland’s businesses, taxpayers and public services are reeling from Shona Robison’s disastrous Budget, this lucrative job ad perfectly illustrates the SNP’s skewed priorities.
The SNP has been accused of having “skewed priorities”
PA
“Brutal cuts may have been inflicted on Scotland’s essential services by Ministers but, of course, the SNP still found extra cash for the constitution and external affairs budget to promote their independence obsession.
“The successful applicant for this will not only enjoy a generous salary but will be spared the punitive income tax rates their employer has imposed on Scots.”
The SNP has increased its budget for the overseas offices by 12 per cent, increasing the budget by more than £1 million in two years.
Earlier this year, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron accused the SNP of a breach of protocol after Scottish ministers met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Lord Cameron said the move was a breach of protocol, as the meeting took place without a UK official present.
But a spokesperson for the First Minister claimed a UK official was invited to the meeting.
The issue of international meetings has been a growing point of tension between Westminster and Holyrood for months.
Cameron was angry that Yousaf had been pursuing a “very different foreign policy”, sources told the Telegraph, especially for a subject as sensitive as the crisis in Gaza.
In a letter to the SNP’s External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson, Cameron said further breaches would mean the Government stops providing “logistical support” or FCDO facilitation of meetings.
He also threatened to close down a number of Scottish government international offices in British embassies in key locations including Paris, Berlin and Washington DC.
Cameron said the SNP had assured the FCDO that it would provide “sufficient advance notice” of the meeting with Erdogan so one of his officials could attend, but Cameron claimed this was “not done”.
He said: “The absence of an FCDO official at this meeting contravenes the protocols in our guidance on FCDO support to devolved government ministers’ overseas visits.
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“Any further breaches of the protocol of ministerial meetings have a FCDO official present will result in no further FCDO facilitation of meetings or logistical support.
“We will also need to consider the presence of Scottish government offices in UK government posts.”
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