Humza Yousaf and his SNP-Green ministers spent £100k on foreign travel in 2023

Analysis by the party of the ministerial engagements register for 2023 show that £98,386.59 was spent on 50 trips, a rise of over £13,000 from the year before. The near six-figure spend also represents an increase of nearly £30,000 from 2017, the most recent full year for which records are still available.

Deputy shadow constitution, external affairs and culture secretary Alexander Stewart said hard-pressed Scots will be questioning the “colossal” spend at the same time Finance Secretary Shona Robison delivered a “disastrous” tax-and-axe Budget.

’Air Miles’ Angus Robertson went on eight ministerial trips last year, which cost the taxpayer close to £15,000 – including over £5,000 for a trip to China. Then Green minister Patrick Harvie who previously boasted that when he goes to Europe that “I take the train”, flew to Copenhagen in April, billing the public purse for over £1,700.

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Other significant costs included Richard Lochhead spending over £11,700 and Humza Yousaf over £7,500 on respective trips to the United States, while Mairi McAllan’s jaunt to COP 28 cost over £4,400.

Mr Stewart called for Holyrood ministers to focus on tackling “real priorities” closer to home rather than jetting off on trips around the world. “The costs of ministerial trips have hit absolutely staggering levels,“ he said.

“Hard-pressed Scots who are paying more but getting less as a result of Shona Robison’s disastrous tax-and-axe Budget, will be asking serious questions about this colossal spend. We know that many of these jaunts are merely used to sell the SNP’s independence obsession around the world which is a complete waste of taxpayers’ money.

“At a time when the SNP’s financial incompetence has created a £1.5billion black hole in Scotland’s finances, it is inexplicable that ministers have racked up a bill of nearly £100,000 for these trips in just one year. It certainly calls into question just where the nationalists and their former green coalition partners’ priorities lie.

“Ministers should stop looking for every opportunity to set off around the world, and fully focus on tackling Scotland’s real priorities. Sums of money such as this astonishing total would have been welcomed by our overstretched NHS and cash-strapped councils.”

The Scottish Government said: “Travel is an essential part of Government business and allows Ministers and officials to promote Scotland, build relationships and boost investment.

“All travel costs are in accordance with travel and subsistence policies to ensure we deliver the best value for money possible for the Scottish taxpayer.”

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