Nicola Sturgeon criticised over £25,000 payment for general election guest appearance

Under her leadership, the SNP criticised former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson for receiving payment for a similar gig.

Nicola Sturgeon criticised over £25,000 payment for general election guest appearanceGetty Images

Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been criticised by opponents for being paid £25,000 to appear as a guest during election night coverage.

Sturgeon also claimed more than £3,000 on accommodation and car travel.

The money was disclosed in an update to the former first minister and MSP’s register of interests.

The payment, issued to her business Nicola Sturgeon Limited, was for Sturgeon’s apperance as a guest on ITV’s general election results programme on July 4 and 5.

Under her leadership, the SNP criticised former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson for receiving payment of £7,500 for appearing as a television guest in 2019.

On Thursday, First Minister John Swinney disagreed with Angus Robertson’s call for Davidson to quit describing it as the “wrong call”.

A spokesperson for Sturgeon said: “Nicola was paid the fee offered by ITV for her appearance on the election results programme and has registered it accordingly.”

STV News understands that any income paid to Sturgeon personally would be taxed as normal but she has not received any income from her company.

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