John Swinney has been called upon to intervene regarding plans by Hannah Mary Goodlad, Scotland's Public Finance Minister, to spend £11,000 of public funds on hiring an artist in residence for her Shetland constituency office. The artist will work for four months at an annual salary rate, producing materials intended to communicate the minister’s aims to constituents and media. Critics argue that this expenditure is inappropriate given current financial constraints, while Ms Goodlad maintains it is essential for effective communication with her constituents.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-12,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Hannah Mary Goodlad, the Scottish minister for public finance and statistics, has proposed spending £11,000 of taxpayers' money on hiring an "artist in residence" for her constituency office in Shetland. The artist would produce materials to help convey Ms. Goodlad's aims to the public and media. This proposal has faced significant criticism from opponents who argue it is wasteful spending. However, Ms. Goodlad defends the position as crucial for effective communication with constituents.
John Swinney, the First Minister of Scotland, has been called upon by critics like Murdo Fraser, a Scottish Conservative culture spokesman, to intervene and halt this plan. Despite each MSP being responsible for their own office spending, there is pressure on Mr. Swinney due to potential public backlash over how tax money is being used.
This development comes at a time when the First Minister has pledged action towards reducing public sector costs as part of his program for government reform. The proposal by Ms. Goodlad directly contradicts these promises and could undermine efforts to streamline state spending.
Written for “Artist Funding Controversy” on 2026-10-12,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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John Swinney has been urged to intervene to stop one of his ministers spending £11,000 of taxpayers’ money on an ‘artist in residence’.
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one → urge → residence
It follows revelations that Hannah Mary Goodlad – the minister for public finance – plans to charge the public purse for a painter, sculptor or musician for her Shetland constituency office to produce materials to convey her aims to the public and media.
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office → follow → public
The proposed appointment has been widely condemned by opponents but Ms Goodlad has defended it as a vital part of being able to ‘communicate effectively and inclusively with constituents’.
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Goodlad → propose → constituents
While each individual MSP is responsible for their own office spending, Mr Swinney has been urged to intervene due to the impact on public finances.
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Swinney → urge → finances
In his programme for government, the First Minister pledged action on public sector reform to bring down the scale and cost of the State.
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Minister → pledge → State
Murdo Fraser, Scottish Conservative culture spokesman, said: ‘If John Swinney has even an ounce of respect for taxpayers’ money, he will tell his colleague to ditch her plans to squander money on hiring someone for this role.
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he → say → role
MSP Hannah Goodlad had announced plans to hire an artist
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Goodlad → announce → artist
It is astonishing that the minister for public finances ever thought this would be a good use of public resources.
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this → think → resources
The SNP have spent two decades wasting money promoting their pet projects, but this really takes the biscuit.
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this → spend → biscuit
‘Swinney should intervene and tell Hannah Mary Goodlad to set an example and avoid leaving the taxpayer to pick up the bill for an artist-in-residence to work for her.’
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artist → intervene → her
Ms Goodlad became an MSP for the first time following May’s Holyrood elections and was made Public Finance Minister in Mr Swinney’s reshuffle following the vote.
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Goodlad → become → vote
In her government role, she has pledged to ‘take a responsible approach’ to public finances and prioritise investment in frontline services.
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she → pledge → services
The full-time artist will join her constituency office in Lerwick, Shetland, for four months.
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artist → join → months
According to the job advert for the role, which comes with an annual salary of £33,000 which works out as £11,000 for the four-month duration, the artist will ‘contribute to and deliver projects exploring policy areas of priority to the MSP through your own artistic practices, to support communication and engagement with constituents’.
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artist → accord → constituents
Max Bannerman, Reform UK MSP for the Highlands and Islands region, said: ‘Hannah Mary Goodlad was elected on the promise to be a Shetland-first MSP, but just five months into the job her ministerial role has inflated her ego beyond belief.
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role → say → belief
The sanctimonious Goodlad became a minister without being put through her paces as an MSP, but now she’s in charge of public finances she’s splashing taxpayer money on an ostentatious nod to Shetlanders.
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she → become → Shetlanders
‘If the First Minister does not intervene, we have to assume John Swinney is permissive of this level of grandiose self-gratification at a time when his government is supposedly looking to ease the nation through a cost-of-living crisis.’
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government → intervene → crisis
Ms Goodlad is also advertising for a part-time member of staff to translate her press releases into the Shetland dialect at a further cost of £12,800 per year.
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Goodlad → advertise → year
Defending her proposed artist in residence role, Ms Goodlad said that the arts, language and culture are important to her and added: ‘A vital role of an MSP is to communicate effectively and inclusively with constituents.
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role → defend → constituents
Sam Taylor, founder of the think-tank These Islands, said: ‘Looking forward to the unveiling of a painting depicting the death of Hannah Mary Goodlad’s leadership ambitions.’
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Taylor → say → ambitions
The SNP has been asked for comment on calls for Mr Swinney to intervene.
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Swinney → ask → calls
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