SNP Health Secretary chauffeured to Hampden and given free tickets for Aberdeen games

SNP Health Secretary gifted Hampden Park trips and free tickets – Daily Record

The SNP’s Health Secretary, Neil Gray, was chauffeured to Hampden Park in a ministerial car to attend three Aberdeen games where he was given VIP tickets. Gray, a supporter of Aberdeen, watched the Dons play against Hibernian, Rangers, and Celtic in League and Scottish Cup fixtures, as revealed by the Sunday Post. The Scottish Government stated that Gray was attending as a guest of the SFA for “essential” business discussions. This incident comes after the SNP criticized Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer for accepting free tickets to Arsenal and England matches.

Gray, who serves as the Airdrie and Shotts MSP, declared these football trips as official business. His first visit was on November 4, 2023, witnessing Aberdeen’s 1-0 victory over Hibs in the League Cup semi-final. He registered this visit under discussions about “social impact investment in sport”. Subsequently, Gray was present at Hampden on December 17 to watch Aberdeen lose 1-0 to Rangers in the final. Following his appointment as Health Secretary in February 2024, Gray attended the Dons’ match against Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final on April 20, 2024, registering the visit as related to “sport”.

Other SNP government ministers also used ministerial cars for trips to sporting events. Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon went to Murrayfield to watch Scotland play rugby, while Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown attended Scotland’s recent football match against Finland. Employment Minister Tom Arthur was driven to Hampden to witness the Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers.

A Scottish Government spokesperson emphasized that ministers are invited to various engagements and events in an official capacity to engage with key stakeholders and promote Scotland. They also stated that all travel costs adhere to travel policies to ensure value for money for the Scottish public.

In summary, the SNP’s Health Secretary, Neil Gray, was chauffeured to Hampden Park and given free VIP tickets to watch Aberdeen games, sparking discussions about official business attendance at sporting events among government ministers. The transparency and justification of such visits are crucial to maintaining public trust and accountability in governmental activities.