Sturgeon paid £25k for ITV general election appearance

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon was paid £25,000 to appear on ITV’s general election results programme, it has been revealed.

The sum, plus VAT, was disclosed in an update to the SNP MSP's register of interests at Holyrood, and was paid to her company Nicola Sturgeon Limited.

Under Sturgeon's leadership, the SNP criticised former Conservative leader Ruth Davidson for taking £7,500 for a similar role in 2019, saying that sitting politicians should not be paid for such appearances.

But First Minister John Swinney said he did not believe Sturgeon should resign as an MSP, and said he disagreed with a previous call from cabinet colleague Angus Robertson for Davidson to quit.

Sturgeon also declared more than £3,000 worth of travel and accommodation.

A spokesperson for the ex-SNP leader said she was paid the fee offered by ITN and registered it accordingly.

Davidson received £7,500 for appearing on an ITV election show in December 2019.

Angus Robertson, who replaced Davidson as MSP for Edinburgh Central in 2021, posted on Twitter in February 2020 that the payment was "another reminder" why Davidson "should resign".

He added: "Edinburgh Central deserves an MSP that will put their constituents first."

SNP MSP Rona Mackay said at the time: "Ruth Davidson's priority appears to be picking up thousands in outside earnings while neglecting her actual job.

"Serving politicians who appear on election night broadcasts do so to represent their party - not to pick up a pay cheque. This payment is unprecedented – and she should now hand it back."

Swinney, who was deputy first minister when SNP colleagues criticised Davidson, was asked after First Minister's Questions if Sturgeon should resign.

He replied: “No, I don't think she should. And I think the call that was made for Ruth Davidson to resign was the wrong call.”

Sturgeon appeared on ITV's general election night coverage in July alongside former Conservative chancellor George Osborne and ex-Labour shadow chancellor Ed Balls.

Her register of interests shows her company, Nicola Sturgeon Limited, was paid £25,000 plus VAT.

She was also provided with accommodation and car travel worth £2803.78 and £329.15 respectively over six days between 30 June and 5 July, in the run to and immediately after the 4 July election.

As her party headed for a loss of 39 seats, Sturgeon told the ITV election programme: "This is not a good night for the SNP on these numbers and there will be a lot of questions that need to be asked as we come out of it.”

Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy said: “Nicola Sturgeon probably reckons she earned every penny of her huge fee for having to squirm on live TV as her own toxic legacy led to SNP seats tumbling on election night, but this declaration exposes her shameless hypocrisy."

He added: “Having the ITV fee paid to her company is clearly a ruse to avoid paying the higher rates of income tax her incompetent SNP government have imposed on hard-working Scots and which she personally championed.

“So much for those with the broadest shoulders bearing the heaviest burden. It’s hard not to conclude that Nicola Sturgeon is an utter fraud.”

After resigning as first minister in March 2023, Sturgeon has said she would release a “‘deeply personal and revealing” autobiography.

The register of interests shows she has received £75,000 as an advance on the book. It is listed as the first of four instalments from publisher Pan Macmillan.

Sturgeon has also written several book reviews, including one for Boris Johnson’s memoir Unleashed.

Her register shows she was paid a combined £2,700 for three book reviews for the New Statesman in recent months.

The former first minster remains under investigation from Police Scotland detectives looking into SNP finances.

She was previously arrested and released without charge, and said she has done nothing wrong.

Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, Sturgeon's husband, was charged with embezzling party funds in April.