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SNP refuse to name parking fine ministers



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Published Date: 19 November 2008
TAXPAYERS have had to fork out for parking fines incurred by SNP ministers – but the Government won't name the guilty politicians.
Official drivers are usually expected to pay the penalty themselves if they park illegally – but if they get a ticket because of a minister, they are reimbursed.

Finance Secretary John Swinney revealed there had been four such cases, involving fines totalling £110, since the SNP came to power 18 months ago, it was reported today.

But Mr Swinney said: "It is not possible to identify which, if any, of the ministers were in the cars at the time the fines were incurred."

However, he listed 17 ministers – including himself, First Minister Alex Salmond and Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill – who had used the cars concerned on the relevant days.

Mr Swinney said: "The Scottish Government staff handbook makes it clear that staff incurring car parking fines for parking illegally whilst on official business will not be reimbursed.

"However, there are occasions when circumstances arise which are beyond the control of officials and which prevent officials returning to parked vehicles in time to avoid parking fines."





The full article contains 192 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 19 November 2008 10:32 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

PaulW,

Borders 19/11/2008 11:24:43
Storm in a teacup. I despair.

Is this how low journalism has sunk. A total of £110 in fines in almost 18 months. get real. If a ministerial car is being used, it is for ministerial business. Are we expecting ministers to say to those they are meeting - sorry I will have to abondon this meeting (on job, justice issues, or the future of the economy) and get back to my car before the meter runs out.

Perhaps they should just have a badge that allows them to park legally without charge anyway, since it is on behalf of the public - not least it would prevent any more silly season stories like this from clogging up the paper and website. Give me strength!
2

Jimmy Le Pie,

19/11/2008 11:48:12
This story sums up just how much the hootsmon has slumped as a decent newspaper.

It has become a mouthpiece for New Labour Sleaze and Corruption.

I see their share price has hit a new low of 8p!! and the market rumours are saying they'll breach their banking covenants soon!!

Will New Labour Sleaze and Corruption bail them out???

Or will they allow The London Standard to buy them on the cheap, and bin the title???
3

Grahamski,

Falkirk 19/11/2008 11:56:50
What a predictable lot the cybernats are with their pathetic attacks on newspapers who have the temerity to print anything that doesn't agree with their delusional dogma.
I seriously worry for all the wee cybernats' health, all this self-righteous indignation isn't good for the soul. Perhaps getting a life may help?
4

A Better Way,

Edinburgh 19/11/2008 12:12:20
Aye yer right Grahamski, they do go on about the bias, but at least they are willing to defend your right to fair press. Its a pity your lot does all they can to get the Unionist Media to manipulate the true state of things.

And you know what Grahamski, you wouldnt even know what we are trying to achieve for our ain kind, your too one eyed ya pair b u g g e r.
5

Alternative (High-Octane) Fuel Head,

Edinburgh 19/11/2008 12:23:48
Whatever next? Are we going to waste time and money debating which ministers spilt their coffee on the floor on the way from the canteen to their office, thereby incurring public expense to employ a cleaner to clean it up?

Scottish politics seems to consist of two things nowadays---possible ways of restricting people's freedom for no reason and unashamed niff-naff and trivia. In other words, either ban it or make a mountain out of a mole-hill.

As proof, what have the Scottish parliament actually achieved since it has been in existance? Answer: A smoking ban, a hunting ban and scrapping a £1 bridge toll.

Have they really not got better things to occupy themselves with?
6

Skip McClendon,

19/11/2008 12:36:15
This problem will all be solved once Edinburgh has its "World Class" tramline, of course.

On that happy day, there will be no need for Miniserial Cars, Buses, Bikes, etc, etc...
7

Skip McClendon,

19/11/2008 12:48:01
Mr Swinney said: "There are occasions when circumstances arise which are beyond the control of officials and which prevent officials returning to parked vehicles in time to avoid parking fines."

Translation: "Sometimes, Alex is getting a REALLY BIG free lunch from someone like Donald Trump, and he just can't possibly tear himself away midway through the seventh course just to stick a couple of quid in the meter".
8

capy,

embra 19/11/2008 12:50:53
Far more interesting would be to find out,how many essential user permits the council have and what is the criteria for there use.

Every council tom, dick, and harry, seems to be able to park where they want for nothing in Edinburgh,while the reast of as pay a fortune and fend off the traffic taliban.

I have asked in the past for this info.Fobbed off,time for a freedom og info request.
9

alanh,

ek 19/11/2008 12:56:03
just in the interest of fairness and even handed reporting was there any parking fines served on the previous administration?
10

Duncan in Edinburgh,

19/11/2008 12:57:14
Hilarious to read the righteous indignation from the Nats. What short memories! 2 years ago such a story would not have been a "storm in a teacup" because it would have been a Labour or Lib Dem minister in the frame.

SNP supporters *still* haven't come to terms with being in government. How long is it going to take you?
11

subrosa,

19/11/2008 13:03:22
# 9

Your attempt at wit is quite pathetic. Stick to you day job.

# 12

What righteous indignation? It's interesting to know that leaders of our country don't get free parking when on government business yet Edinburgh council staff do. That's not indignation just a taxpayer's interest.

Also, for the sake of balanced journalism, it would be good to have a comparison with the last government. Or don't you believe in balance?
12

Thomas79,

Ayrshire 19/11/2008 13:08:49
what nonsense, I am an SNP supporter and this is stupid. I would have said the same if it had been labour/tory or lib dem ministers as well. These £110 fines, which represent a massive 0.000000036% of the yearly scottish budget, is making headlines on a national respected newspaper. someone tell me whats going on?
13

Grahamski,

Falkirk 19/11/2008 13:15:06
Heaven knows how the nats will react when it's reported that a nat has taken an 'illegal' donation.
14

Linda,

Edinburgh 19/11/2008 13:15:32
This newspaper is still very anti SNP and no attempt at balance.

Rathere than paying 40p to buy EEN you could buy 5 Johnston Press shares which have fallen to under 8p.

Eventually we could own the rag

15

Alternative (High-Octane) Fuel Head,

Edinburgh 19/11/2008 13:31:53
Subrosa,

If you want to get free parking when you are at work, join the police. I gather that they are allowed to give themselves permission to park anywhere they like, provided that there is a need for them to do so.

Duncan,

This kind of fuss over nothing would be ridiculous WHOEVER is in power.

Lets get this in perspective...

£110 wouldn't buy me enough fags to last 2 months (at UK rip-off prices).
£110 wouldn't cover getting scammed by a speed camera twice.
£110 wouldn't fill the tank of my car twice.
£110 wouldn't rent you a contract mobile phone for a year.
Most people wouldn't be able to service their car for £110.

For christs sake! If they're that concerned about it, CHANGE THE LAW giving ministers exemption from paying parking charges. After all, they are supposed to be ministers so that shouldn't be a problem.

Alternatively, they could insist upon the same level of security afforded to Westminster ministers, then their travel would form part of a police operation and this problem wouldn't exist. The bill would probably come to substantially more than £110 for this though.
16

lulach mac gille coemgain,

19/11/2008 13:34:51
Cmon EEN Print the BNP list !
17

roadstohell,

19/11/2008 13:49:12
Name the guilty, let's see them punished, hung, drawn & quartered, Edinburgh has been denied the spectacle of a really good public execution for far too long. Want to bring back the tourists ?
Then have some really gory public executions, they'll come in droves, think of what that will add to the city coffers, we can hold them @ Ocean Terminal, that way the trams can carry the crowds directly to the site of execution. The tartan tat shops can diversify into selling plastic execution axes, wee wind up guillotines, and tartan execution masks, I can see it all now, a 21st century, vibrant city at the cutting edge........... I'm soooooo excited
18

Brian S,

Edinburgh 19/11/2008 13:50:55
Looks to ceiling, rolls eyes and sighs.

If government officials or on government business, then who cares where they park (within reason). I lived in London and worked in the city where you would see UK ministers park wherever they liked (red routes, double yellows and even a bus lane once).

This newspaper really needs to get a grip and focus on real issues.
19

Yonthing!,

19/11/2008 13:59:04
Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy reporting once again.

How many other ministers have been reimbursed for fines? (and if the answer is none, the article should say that).

And given the scale of the problem (4), and "importance" of these ministers, having a car get a parking fine is probably more economical than using a taxi for the journey.
20

Ghengis McCann,

Edinburgh 19/11/2008 14:02:24
Usual whining from the CyberGnats about unfair treatment from anyone who dares to criticise King Smug and his Gnatolytes. If you lot think you're getting a bad press at the moment, I look forward with relish to the day when you are on the receiving end of a really bad press (ie the kind Scottish Labour gets as standard).

King size dollop of hypocrisy over this story - the Gnats have a veritable army of so-called "researchers" whose sole task seems to be to dig up dirt on Labour politicians in particular and to complain about them (eg their vindictive and partisan vendetta against Bendy Wendy). Pete Wishart's main job at Westminster seems to be making complaints to the Serjeant at Arms. They don't like it back up them though.

The only kind of free press King Smug would allow in his separatist Scotland would be one free to print whatever brown-nosing stories about the Gnats it wanted. We'd have McPravda within a year.
21

The Judge,

19/11/2008 14:06:30
I wondered if this story would be in the EEN. As ever the New Labour supporting press haven't let us down.

Now if only they could spend a little time on the New Labour MPs ripping off the taxpayer.

Here's a nice easy one.

How much has Nigel Griffiths sister made from renting her shop to the tax payer?

How did she get a change of use from retail to commercial office space?

Who at the New Labour controlled council approved it?

Meanwhile amuse your New Labour readers with tales of £110 on parking tickets.
22

Ghengis McCann,

Edinburgh 19/11/2008 14:14:33
#23 - Griffiths' misdeeds were all over the papers for weeks when it happened (which was about five years ago). There was never any suggestion that Edinburgh Council was involved in any way. But you Gnats never let the facts get in the way of a good smear, do you?

No doubt your idea of fair press coverage is to re-run old stories about other Parties rather than expose the truth about the Gnats. Plenty more the press could have made out of King Smug's interference in Donald Trump's wee venture, for example, but you got off lightly there as well.

Your media honeymoon won't last for ever, though. There are plenty of Gnats across Scotland with their snouts in Council troughs now, and sooner or later the muck will float to the top of the pond. It always does.
23

Skip McClendon,

19/11/2008 14:16:06
#13 subrosa

"Your attempt at wit is quite pathetic. Stick to you day job."

Yes, how dare I mock the great leader, eh?

His attempts at running the country are quite pathetic. If he spent more time actually working to keep his many (broken) promises rather than wasting time cosying up to dodgy American billionaires and visiting Glenrothes over a dozen times, then maybe I might become a bit more convinced of his merits.
24

The Judge,

19/11/2008 14:29:42
#24 - Griffiths' misdeeds were all over the papers for weeks when it happened (which was about five years ago). There was never any suggestion that Edinburgh Council was involved in any way. But you Gnats never let the facts get in the way of a good smear, do you?

----

First things first, I'm not a "Gnat" I'm more of a floating voter.

Secondly is NG still renting a shop from his sister yes or no?

Is renting from a family member against parliamentary rules yes or no?

Did NG set up a trust fund so he could "bend" the rules yes or no?

I'll ask again how much has his sister been a paid over the last 10 years?

How did she get a change of use?

Or do you want to talk about the ex New Labour member for Glasgow East who was caught with his hand in the till?

25

Number 6,

Germany 19/11/2008 14:31:39
And they stil can't work out why their readership figures have collapsed.

This is getting more like a student rag every day.

No room for the ID card story I see. Liebour are now claiming it is being brought in by PUBLIC DEMAND.

All Scottish parties apart from Liebour's detatchment (of Course) are voting against it.

All unionistas are hereby ordered to demand an id card immediatley. CHOP CHOP.
26

Thomas the Tank,

Edinburgh 19/11/2008 14:33:37
What the Embra Evening Chip-Wrapper FAILS to 'reveal' is that this pathetic excuse for a story was dredged up by none other than Lard George Ffoulkes-Sake, Scourge of the Nats and Pie-Eating Champion of Tynecastle. Then cobbled into a 'release' and fed to the ever-gullible political correspondent. The fines, 2 in Embra, 1 Glasgow, 1 Perth; on 6 June, 12 July, and 9 November 2007, and 22 April 2008, were the subject of no less than 3 Parliamentary Questions (S3w 15148, 15400 and 15878) by His Ridiculous Lardship, out of a total of 841 he has asked since being Anointed last May. Transparency works both ways, Geordie!
27

Thomas the Tank,

Edinburgh 19/11/2008 14:38:41
. . . and I'd like to wager that the cost of answering Geordie's Parliamentary Questions came to a damned sight more than £110.
28

Thomas the Tank,

Edinburgh 19/11/2008 14:43:48
Alternative High Octane - You're not so far from the truth at #6! Try this one - S3W-17900 - George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab) (Date Lodged Friday, November 14, 2008): To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances it meets dry cleaning costs incurred by Cabinet ministers and whether it will detail any such costs met since May 2007, broken down by Cabinet minister.
29

,

19/11/2008 14:53:43
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
30

DAVID,

Edinburgh 19/11/2008 15:02:47
I'm no fan of the SNP but this is really pathetic stuff.

Can we have an in-depth investigation into all the millions of pounds of taxpayers money pi55ed away on the trams nonsense instead?

Thank you please.
31

Thomas the Tank,

Edinburgh 19/11/2008 15:14:09
#3, JLP, Meanwhile, Johnston Press shares have slumped another 10% since this morning. Now a snip at 7.2p.
32

Ghengis McCann,

Edinburgh 19/11/2008 15:33:17
#24 - "I'm not a "Gnat" I'm more of a floating voter" - So be it. That is what all the CyberGnats claim, so pardon my cynicism.

"Secondly is NG still renting a shop from his sister yes or no?" - Er, no. He was forced to regularise the position when the matter came to light.

"Is renting from a family member against parliamentary rules yes or no?" - Yes, but he was dealt with under the rules 5 years ago. There has been another General Election since then, and he has been re-elected since then.

"Did NG set up a trust fund so he could "bend" the rules yes or no?" - Yes, and he was dealt with under the rules - 5 years ago.

"I'll ask again how much has his sister been a paid over the last 10 years?" - The report of the investigation is in the public domain and freely available. Any benefits to his sister will have ceased when the matter came to light and Griffiths was forced to put his affairs in order to ensure that there was no loss to the public purse.

"How did she get a change of use?" - As I say, the report is freely available. There was no evidence then of any wrongdoing on the part of Edinburgh Council and you have no evidence now. You are simply smearing the MP.

"Or do you want to talk about the ex New Labour member for Glasgow East who was caught with his hand in the till?" - Again a crude smear for a matter unproven. All Parties have such issues - Fife Council (SNP) are currently accused of a sweetheart deal with SNP donor Brian Souter. But we won't mention that, eh?
33

Thomas the Tank,

Edinburgh 19/11/2008 15:58:02
Parliamentary Question S3W-17899 - George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab) (Date Lodged Friday, November 14, 2008): To ask the Scottish Executive which members of the Scottish Government have received the services of a stylist since May 2007. Due for answer Monday, December 01, 2008. The Taxpaying Public waits with bated breath for the Result to be published in the EEN, but it would take more than a 'Stylist' to help you, Geordie!

34

Jimmy Le Pie,

19/11/2008 16:22:59
I've just read through the BNP list and I see there are a few Scots on it. No surprise when you read some of the e-mail addresses, like bluenose-1690@hotmail

Sad, sad people.
35

Arfur,

19/11/2008 16:52:40
Hootsman this is PATHETIC.

FOUR cases totaling £110. If every man woman and child in Scotland paid tax it would cost each of us £0.000022. WOW.

As for some of the dough balls above I would be saying this for any party.
36

The Judge,

19/11/2008 17:05:28
#40
Any benefits to his sister will have ceased when the matter came to light and Griffiths was forced to put his affairs in order to ensure that there was no loss to the public purse.

--------

Brilliant stuff, I hope you're career in politics is a long and fruitful one.
37

Miss H,

19/11/2008 17:14:20
Absolutely disgraceful. Nobody who has ever incurred a parking fine should be allowed to hold any kind of office.

Drum them out the brownies that's what I say.

And time for a retrospective search of library fines. How many of these ministerial maniacs have failed to return a library book before the allocated date?

The people must be told!!!!!!!!!!!
38

Jimmy Le Pie,

19/11/2008 17:15:50
I see that New Labour Sleaze and Corruption have suspended their branch in Iain Grey's constituency.

Not more double dealing and corruption from them??

Bet it is though!!!!!!
39

Miss H,

19/11/2008 17:20:58
42 Come come, if he didn't have all these questions to ask he might have to do some actual work.
40

,

19/11/2008 17:27:02
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
41

Jimmy Le Pie,

19/11/2008 17:33:41
The complete list of BNP members can be found here

www.bnpmemberslist.co.uk
42

Alternative (High-Octane) Fuel Head,

Edinburgh 19/11/2008 18:14:20
#45:

"FOUR cases totaling £110. If every man woman and child in Scotland paid tax it would cost each of us £0.000022. WOW."

I see your point. In fact, I feel like stumping up the £110 myself, out of my own pocket, just to stop the non-entities whinging about it.

As for Foulkes, he should be excluded from the chamber for having the gall to ask such irrelevant, trivial rubbish, thereby costing literally thousands of pounds of OUR money in civil servants' time researching and answering his stupid questions.

It seems it's OK for idiots like Foulkes to cost the taxpayer thousands for nothing, yet everyone is up in arms about a hundred quid's worth of parking fines over an 18 month period. How ridiculous.
43

GJS,

19/11/2008 19:29:24
#17 re the police

Apparently getting a chippy counts as part of essential police work, they seem to be allowed to park on double yellow lines blocking the road so as not to strain their poor little legs when getting their chips.
44

john z,

edinburgh 19/11/2008 23:16:07
The economy is going down the pan due to Brown and Darling and thousands of Scottish banking jobs are about to be lost at the whim of Darling and London Labour.

Four frigg*n parking fines are just not important. Jeez...
45

subrosa,

20/11/2008 01:21:12
# 17

I have ample parking at work including the choice of a triple car garage.

Are members of the UK cabinet entitled to free parking? I'm sure you'd know.
46

subrosa,

20/11/2008 01:27:11
# 25

I don't think Alex Salmond would miss your support.

Who was it who flew Trump round Scotland in a helicopter at taxpayers expense? Erm... who was it again... oh yes Mr McConnell.

Who was it to had to have his wife do his campaigning for him while he sat in his house in Fife? Erm... who was it again... oh yes Mr Brown.


47

Skip McClendon,

20/11/2008 09:39:27
#58

This article is about the SNP, not McConnell or Brown. Please try to keep up.

The SNP is now in power at Holyrood, so you need to get used to it.

Personally, I'd rather the Prime Minister was doing things like running the country, rather than visiting a bye-election constituency over a dozen times. Putting your party's interests in front of the country's interests = not a good idea. Particularly when you lose, having declared victory in advance of the poll.
48

Skip McClendon,

20/11/2008 09:50:03
#58

Oh, and you don't think that Alex Salmond would miss my support?

Typical blinkered SNP smugness. It's floating voters like myself (never having been a member of any political party) that the SNP needs to attract if it ever hopes to achieve its aims. And what the army of cybernats fails to grasp, is that their constant stream of uber-agressive nationalism on internet forums only serves to turn such voters off from the SNP. So, rather than contributing to potential victory, the cybernats serve only to lessen the chances of their own party succeeding.
49

me150,

20/11/2008 10:23:52
They park illegally they get fined, simple and straight forward, just like the rest of us.

It appears they flaunt the rules because of who they are. They should be fined more heavily for thinking they are above the law.

Another SNP perk where we pay for their stupidity.

Do you lot banging on about it being a small % of the budget really think this is the only pointless waste of public money, think again. All the wee yins soon add up to something a lot more substantial.
50

Scunnert,

20/11/2008 17:37:50
Fifty Eight Posts - aboot nuthin.

 

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