SCOTTISH Tories have been accused of “rank hypocrisy” over criticism of Nicola Sturgeon's overseas visits after it was revealed David Mundell’s Scotland Office spent £120,000 on foreign trips in the last three years.
The Scottish Secretary made nine overseas visits between February 25, 2016, and February 25, 2019, according to information uncovered by The Ferret.
After travelling to the US and Canada in February, Sturgeon was accused by Tory politicians of using the £44,000 foreign trip as an excuse to promote independence at the taxpayer’s expense.
READ MORE: Scottish Labour join Tories in attacking FM's trips to promote Scotland
However, it has now emerged that the Scottish Tory’s only UK Cabinet member has been making a series of overseas visits – the most of expensive of which, to Paraguay and Argentina, cost £20,800.
Mundell also made a £18,600 trip to Texas and an £18,000 visit to New Zealand. His office spent a further £17,100 on a trip to Hong Kong and Japan, £16,600 on a New York and Syracuse visit and £15,300 on a trip to Myanmar and Singapore.
SNP MSP George Adam said that the Scottish Secretary’s travels highlight that he “disagrees with his Tory chums who were quick to attack Scotland’s First Minister”.
He added: “Of course it’s only right that ministers should do everything they can to promote Scotland abroad – the only question is why nobody noticed he was gone.
“I have no doubt the public will see this rank hypocrisy from the Tory party for what it is.”
Following her trip to North America, the First Minister was lambasted by Scottish Tory chief whip Maurice Golden.
He said: "Another week and another jaunt abroad for the First Minister.
"Meanwhile, back home, we have a health service on its knees, our schools are struggling, and councils are toiling to balance their budgets due to SNP cuts." The First Minister hit back while opening a new Scottish Government office in Paris.
"My opponents back home seen to have descended into the worst possible parochialism and provincialism," she told BBC Scotland.
READ MORE: Tory who slammed Sturgeon for foreign visits takes trip to Caribbean
Another Tory MSP who condemned Sturgeon for making foreign state visits was accused of hypocrisy after going on an overseas trip to the Caribbean.
Jamie Greene, who has publicly criticised the First Minister for visiting the US, Canada and Catalonia, skipped proceedings at Holyrood to act as an election observer in the British Virgin Islands.
READ MORE: Sturgeon accuses critics of trips abroad of the 'worst possible parochialism'
The Scotland Office insisted that Mundell’s trips were undertaken with “proper regard for value for money and with the minimum number of accompanying staff”. Officials added that the Secretary was ordinarily accompanies by two staff members, as opposed to seven who went with Sturgeon to North America.
Trips to Texas, Paraguay and Argentina and New Zealand were primarily used to “to promote Scotland as a great place for investment, business and study”, the Scotland Office said.
Other visits to Hong Kong and Japan, Myanmar and Singapore, Chile and Uruguay (£10,500) and Iceland (£1100).
A further £2500 was spent on a trip to Brussels and Berlin.
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