Nicola Sturgeon’s £25,000 Fee for ITV Election Broadcast Revealed

Information has emerged that Nicola Sturgeon, the former first minister, received £25,000 for her participation in ITV’s general election results broadcast. This amount, along with VAT, was recorded in her SNP MSP register of interests at Holyrood, and the payment was directed to her firm, Nicola Sturgeon Limited. During Nicola Sturgeon’s tenure as leader, the Scottish National Party had previously condemned former Conservative leader Ruth Davidson for accepting £7,500 for a comparable engagement in 2019, asserting that active politicians ought not to be compensated for such television appearances. However, First Minister John Swinney stated his view that Ms. Sturgeon should not step down as an MSP, and indicated his disagreement with an earlier demand from his cabinet colleague Angus Robertson for Ms. Davidson to resign. Additionally, Ms. Sturgeon declared travel and accommodation expenses exceeding £3,000. A representative for the former SNP leader confirmed that she received the amount proposed by ITN and recorded it appropriately. Ruth Davidson had received £7,500 for her appearance on an ITV election program in December 2019. Angus Robertson, who succeeded Ms. Davidson as MSP for Edinburgh Central in 2021, commented on Twitter in February 2020 that this payment served as “another reminder” of why Ms. Davidson “should resign.” He further stated: “Edinburgh Central deserves an MSP that will put their constituents first.” At that time, SNP MSP Rona Mackay remarked: “Ruth Davidson’s priority appears to be picking up thousands in outside earnings while neglecting her actual job.” She continued: “Serving politicians who appear on election night broadcasts do so to represent their party – not to pick up a pay cheque. This payment is unprecedented – and she should now hand it back.” Mr. Swinney, who held the position of deputy first minister when his SNP colleagues voiced criticism of Ms. Davidson, was questioned following First Minister’s Questions regarding whether Ms. Sturgeon ought to resign. His response was: “No, I don’t think she should. And I think the call that was made for Ruth Davidson to resign was the wrong call.” In July, Ms. Sturgeon participated in ITV’s general election night broadcast, appearing alongside former Conservative chancellor George Osborne and former Labour shadow chancellor Ed Balls. Her register of interests indicates that her company, Nicola Sturgeon Limited, received £25,000 plus VAT. Furthermore, she was provided with accommodation valued at £2803.78 and car travel worth £329.15 over a six-day period, from June 30 to July 5, encompassing the lead-up to and immediate aftermath of the July 4 election. As her party faced a projected loss of 39 seats, Ms. Sturgeon commented on the ITV election program: “This is not a good night for the SNP on these numbers and there will be a lot of questions that need to be asked as we come out of it.” Craig Hoy, the chairman of the Scottish Conservatives, stated: “Nicola Sturgeon probably reckons she earned every penny of her huge fee for having to squirm on live TV as her own toxic legacy led to SNP seats tumbling on election night, but this declaration exposes her shameless hypocrisy.” He further remarked: “Having the ITV fee paid to her company is clearly a ruse to avoid paying the higher rates of income tax her incompetent SNP government have imposed on hard-working Scots and which she personally championed.“So much for those with the broadest shoulders bearing the heaviest burden. It’s hard not to conclude that Nicola Sturgeon is an utter fraud.” Following her resignation as first minister in March 2023, Ms. Sturgeon announced her intention to publish a “‘deeply personal and revealing” autobiography. Her register of interests indicates that she has been paid £75,000 as an advance for this book, recorded as the initial payment of four instalments from the publisher Pan Macmillan. Ms. Sturgeon has also authored multiple book reviews, including one for Boris Johnson’s memoir, Unleashed. Her register reveals she received a total of £2,700 for three book reviews for the New Statesman in recent months. The former first minister is still subject to an investigation by Police Scotland detectives concerning SNP finances. She was previously apprehended and subsequently released without charges, maintaining her innocence. Peter Murrell, Ms. Sturgeon’s husband and former SNP chief executive, was charged in April with embezzling party funds.