BORIS Johnson’s ill-advised trip to Scotland in January in the middle of lockdown cost Police Scotland a total of £8497.55, most of which was for officers’ overtime.
The figure was revealed in a freedom of information (FOI) request by independence campaigner Martin Keatings, whose earlier FOI request uncovered the £50,000 cost of a visit during which the Prime Minister had to exit the First Minister’s official Bute House residence by the back door – the “Bute chute”.
Keatings had to appeal against the initial refusal of his first request, but on this occasion the figures showed that all bar £66.30 of the costs related to overtime.
His response from Police Scotland read: “I would first advise you that under the terms of the Act I am only able to provide recorded rather than ‘estimated’ costs.
“On that basis I can confirm that the total recorded cost to Police Scotland for the Prime Minister visit on January 28, 2021 is £8497.55, of which £8431.25 relates to officer overtime.
“You should however bear in mind that this figure may not be final as other costs could still be added to the relevant cost code.”
Johnson’s flying visit to drum up support for the Union backfired after police received complaints claiming he had breached the travel ban between Scotland and England – two days after the UK recorded 100,000 Covid-19 fatalities.
Among critics of the jaunt was Roz Foyer, general secretary of the STUC, who wrote on social media: “Apart from the very obvious safety concerns of this non-essential visit there is a huge risk of him damaging the Union further with every word he speaks while here. #owngoal.”
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