THE Scottish Greens are facing questions after it was revealed the party has been offering meetings with its senior politicians in exchange for cash.
An investigation by The Sunday Mail found that such meetings had been on offer for more than a year, including when Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater served as ministers in the Scottish Government.
It’s understood the party first offered explicit access to its MSPs in October last year when lobbyists were offered the chance to buy an “exhibitor reception” for the price of £700.
The offer promised to give lobbyists an “invitation only opportunity to talk to MSPs, councillors and observers”.
This could fall foul of the Scottish Parliament’s lobbying rules.
The parliamentary code states that “members may participate in events for which others are charged a fee attend”.
However, it adds that “there could be some concern that events falling into this category could be a means of ‘buying’ access to MSPs. It is important that there should be no grounds for such a perception.”
Will Dinan, a senior lecturer in communications at the University of Stirling and an expert in lobbying, said: “This is a bad look for the Greens.
“It also appears to breach the rules in place that governs access to ministers.
“There is clearly a perception of privileged access created by how this sponsorship is pitched.
“The Greens appear to have travelled some distance from when they were champions of probity when in opposition in Holyrood.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Greens said: “Like all political parties the Scottish Greens will host charities, campaign groups and other stakeholders at our conference with sponsorship options where appropriate and in line with rules and regulations.”
