IN an era when Tory calamities seem to be played out on at least a twice-daily basis, it can be hard to comprehend just how incompetent some members of the UK Government truly are.
Thankfully, the Jouker has devised a new way to quantify Conservative ineptitude.
It has been revealed that Nicola Sturgeon’s recent trip to North America to promote Scotland to an international audience – a move praised by former first minister Henry McLeish – cost around £44,000.
READ MORE: Sturgeon's trips to promote Scotland are 'vital', say former senior ministers
Now compare that figure to the monumental sum squandered by the UK Department for Transport in its botched attempt to secure additional freight capacity after Breixt.
Chris Grayling’s department, having already awarded a ferry contract to a firm with no ferries, dished out £33 million to Eurotunnel to settle a lawsuit after being accused of awarding contracts in a “secretive” manner.
The Jouker would like to say the scale of the incompetence is astonishing, but given the record of Grayling’s esteemed Cabinet colleagues, we think that would be a stretch too far.
What we can say, however, is that with the £33m spent on attempting to spare the Government’s blushes, Nicola Sturgeon could have gone on promotional trips to North America 750 times.
For a party that champions austerity, the Tories are incredibly fond of wasting money.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel