A TORY MSP has been told to apologise after mocking a Holyrood colleague who raised concerns about struggling for money before she receives her first paycheck from Parliament.
SNP Highland and Islands MSP Emma Roddick, the country’s youngest parliamentarian, took to social media to warn that the cost of becoming an MSP may put working-class candidates off running for office.
Despite the 23-year-old’s post attracting scores of sympathetic comments, including from other Holyrood members, she was lambasted by Conservative Annie Wells.
Roddick, who has previously been homeless, tweeted: “Probably a point to be made about new MSPs being expected to live, travel, dress, spend money like an MSP for a month before they receive a salary...
“Hello, unplanned overdraft ... Will be asking in induction tomorrow if advances are an option.”
Wider point about ability to take time off/travel to campaign etc. is also something I struggled with, but there's generally more support available for that. Nobody wants to give elected representatives more money! 😂
— Emma Roddick MSP (@Emma_Roddick) May 10, 2021
READ MORE: Emma Roddick: We need to talk about the financial barriers to becoming an MSP
Wells replied: “Aw, diddums.
“Your sheer entitlement is on full display here, please reflect on this tweet for the benefit of your constituents.”
Aw, diddums 🤦
— Annie Wells MSP (@AnnieWellsMSP) May 11, 2021
Your sheer entitlement is on full display here, please reflect on this tweet for the benefit of your constituents 👇 https://t.co/0AgOyCc3Vf
The remarks were in stark contrast to the supportive message from Ruth Davidson.
The former Scottish Tory leader wrote to Roddick: “I had the same issue when I was first elected and the admin team at HR were very willing and able to help.”
I had the same issue when I was first elected and the admin team at HR were very willing and able to help.
— Ruth Davidson (@RuthDavidsonPC) May 11, 2021
Wells, elected on the list for the Glasgow region in last week’s vote, was urged to apologise.
Green MSP Ross Greer posted: “Really think you owe Emma an apology for this one, Annie.”
His party colleague, Gillian Mackay MSP, added: “This is the level of childish rubbish we need to get rid of in this session of Parliament.”
Roddick, who thanked parliamentary colleagues for their support on social media, has written exclusively for The National about how working-class candidates could be put off running for Holyrood by the costs of the process.
She wrote: “Next month, I will have a salary I've never earned half of before. That is genuinely scary to me as someone who has been homeless and often struggled financially, so I plan to donate a chunk to charity every month.
“My situation is not comparable to people who are not about to get paid in a month's time – a situation I've been in myself – and I don't pretend otherwise. However, this is a symptom of a larger issue.”
The SNP MSP added: “Government by the rich is government for the rich, and I believe that Scotland – which doesn't vote for the Tory governments we get in Whitehall – wants something different.
“Let's make sure we're not turning would-be parliamentarians, who would make the change that's desperately needed, away at the door.”
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