| Yet another expenses row erupted at the weekend after it emerged the Scottish Parliament will still be allowing its members to claim back for commemorative wreaths, which raise funds for war veterans young and old.
Historically, MSPs have always been allowed to recoup money paid out on poppy wreaths, but there was an outcry earlier this year when politicians’ expenses were made public and it was discovered that 15 had reclaimed hundreds of pounds last year.
The largest claim was made by Dunfermline East MSP Helen Eadie, who spent £170.42 on wreaths for different villages in her constituency.
All members who made claims repayed the costs after their actions were branded “immoral” and “dishonourable”.
Today a spokeswoman for the Dundee SNP group said, “Neither Joe FitzPatrick nor Shona Robison has ever claimed for poppy wreaths — and they do not intend to do so in the future.”
A number of MSPs have remembrance ceremonies in their own constituencies, and many lay wreaths on behalf of the Scottish Parliament.
The SNP group spokeswoman added, “The MSPs do go on behalf of the Parliament, and that is why buying a wreath is regarded as an expense, but neither Joe nor Shona has ever thought it to be reasonable.”
Two prominent north east Fife MSPs have confirmed they will not claim expenses for Remembrance Day wreaths. The office for north east Fife MSP Iain Smith said the Liberal Democrat had “never claimed for this and never would”.
And it was a similar story from the Tory MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Ted Brocklebank, who added that he had never claimed for, and would never consider claiming for, a memorial wreath on parliamentary expenses.
“No Conservative MSP has ever considered this appropriate,” he continued.
“Both my father and grandfather served in the armed forces, and I regularly lay a wreath at the St Andrews war memorial to remember the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women.”
Central Fife Nationalist MSP Tricia Marwick, who lays a wreath at Glenrothes, Markinch or Methil every year, always pays for them out of her own pocket.
“I have never claimed expenses for a wreath and have no intentions of doing so in the future,” she told the Tele.
Kirkcaldy Labour MSP Marilyn Livingstone also meets the cost of the wreath she lays annually, said a spokesman.
Perthshire politicians pledged to buy their own wreaths as they remember the war dead.
This weekend Perth MSP Roseanna Cunningham laid a wreath during a ceremony at Polish war graves in the Fair City.
She purchased the wreath herself, and has been joined in so doing by Mid Scotland and Fife MSPs Murdo Fraser and Liz Smith.
“I will be buying a wreath this year for Remembrance Day and, as in previous years, will be paying for it out of my own pocket,” Mr Fraser said.
Meanwhile, Ms Smith remarked, “I have not made any claims for wreaths, nor will I be doing so this year.”
The recouping of expenses for poppy wreaths has been banned at Westminster since 2004. |
