Four key SNP ministers will jet off to the US to cheer on Scotland in the World Cup – despite the Scottish Parliament still being open for business.
The four will be absent from Holyrood during a busy pariamentary period as they fly 3,000 miles to join the Tartan Army in supporting the national team.
John Swinney will be joined by Sports Minister Maree Todd, Transport Minister Stephen Flynn and Community Care Minister Alison Thewliss.
The First Minister agreed to grant special permission for Mr Flynn and Ms Thewliss to add extra holidays to their nine-week parliamentary recess break.
Last night critics described the MSPs’ World Cup trip during parliamentary time as a ‘jolly.’
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: ‘John Swinney’s taxpayer-funded World Cup jolly merits a red card for hypocrisy given his previous attacks on rival MSPs who spent their own money to follow their teams while parliament was sitting.
‘With serious question marks over Swinney’s leadership due to his central role in the Peter Murrell scandal, I’m sure he’s delighted that serial plotter Stephen Flynn is off to the US — and probably hopes it’s a one-way ticket.
‘I’ll be cheering on Scotland from home while backing our beleaguered hospitality sector, which has been hammered by the SNP.’
Stephen Flynn and John Swinney have enjoyed foreign trips to watch Scotland before, such as their time in Munich, above, where they watched the National side’s Euro 2024 opener
SNP MSP Alison Thewliss, who is a fan of Motherwell FC, will go to the US to watch Scotland
Last week Mr Swinney told the MoS he would be going to watch Scotland play Haiti in their opening match on June 14 and would combine the trip with ‘other commitments around investment and economic activity’.
However, at the time, he said he didn’t know what other ministers in his government would also be going.
While Mr Swinney and sports minister Ms Todd are due to attend in an official capacity, transport secretary Mr Flynn and community care minister Ms Thewliss have been given time off to go, effectively taking their summer breaks early.
Parliament is not due to go into recess until June 25 – the day after the last Scotland match in the opening round against Brazil.
The SNP’s decision to allow four ministers to go to the US comes despite Mr Swinney claiming that his government would ‘hit the ground running’ and work ‘harder than ever’ for the people of Scotland.
It also comes after Mr Swinney criticised Tory MSP Murdo Fraser for flying to Seville, Spain, in 2022 at his own expense to watch Rangers play in the Europa League final.
Mr Findlay also took aim at political rival Malcolm Offord after the Reform party’s Scotland leader stated in December that he also planned to go to the World Cup.
The Scots Tory leader said: ‘I’ll be standing up to the SNP at Holyrood while Lord Offord scores an own goal by abandoning FMQs just weeks into his new job.’
Maree Todd, who is an SNP cabinet minister, will watch Scotland play Brazil at the World Cup
Scotland’s men’s side are preparing for the launch of their run at the World Cup this month
Callum McGoldrick, investigations campaign manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, blasted the SNP ‘jolly’, saying: ‘Scots were told their government would hit the ground running, but taxpayers will be wondering how that squares with ministers being waved off to the World Cup while parliament is sitting.
‘Those holding senior public office should be focused on the serious challenges facing Scotland, from economic and transport pressures to the wider cost of government rather than heading off on a World Cup jolly.
‘Ministers are entitled to be football fans, but voters expect their public duties and service to constituents to come first.’
It follows the First Minister’s announcement in February that the Monday after Scotland’s opening match would be a public holiday, in what critics dubbed a ‘pre-election bribe’.
The declaration has led to a post-code lottery for public sector staff given not all councils have agreed to give workers the day off.
Politicians do not have any formal annual leave entitlement and are expected to take holidays during the 142 days that parliament is in recess throughout the year.
However, the fact Holyrood will still be in session during Scotland’s first three matches means Mr Flynn and Ms Thewliss are taking holidays during working time.
News that Mr Flynn has been given the green light to go comes after weeks of speculation over whether Mr Swinney would give permission– something required given his status as a cabinet minister.
The former SNP Westminster leader first said he planned to go to the World Cup in the wake of Scotland’s 4-2 win over Denmark at Hampden in November.
At the time, Mr Flynn changed his X profile to ‘GOING TO THE WORLD CUP’, and later confirmed he meant that he was personally travelling to North America.
The 2026 finals, which run from June 11 to July 19, clash with Holyrood’s timetable, where the Scottish parliament is not expected to start its summer recess until June 25.
Mr Flynn has defended his plans, saying his constituents would be ‘understanding of the rarity of the occasion’.
Last month, he told another detractor to ‘bore off’, when pulled up on the matter but insisted he would attend despite not yet having permission from his boss.
Laura Hansler, a safety campaigner calling for the dualling of the A9, said transport minister Mr Flynn should be focussed on improving the deadly route rather than going to the football.
Commenting on news Mr Flynn now has permission to go, Ms Hansler said: ‘I’m absolutely scunnered by the entire situation.
‘With so much work still to be done, and with critical decisions and plans needing attention, many will question whether travelling to the World Cup is really the best use of a newly appointed minister’s time.
‘Despite Stephen Flynn generating significant media coverage around the A9 and making a series of public commitments, I have yet to receive anything beyond an acknowledgement and case reference number from his office.’
She added: ‘Unfortunately, I’m left wondering whether Mr Flynn’s appearance on the A9 was more about securing headlines than delivering meaningful engagement, before he vanishes.’
A Scottish Labour spokeswoman said she was ‘unaware’ of any of the party’s MSPs planning to attend the sporting spectacular, and the Scottish Conservatives said the same, while the Scottish Greens said none of their MSPs were going.
The Liberal Democrats didn’t respond when asked.
For an MSP to abandon their constituency and parliamentary duties during working time, they have to request permission, known as a ‘slip’, from their party leader.
It is then up to the leader to decide, based on any upcoming votes or other business, whether they can be spared.
The national side will take on Haiti on June 13, then Morocco six days later before playing Brazil on June 24, with the matches taking place in Boston and Miami.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: ‘As is the case in any workplace people can take leave when they receive the appropriate clearance.’
