The Scottish Government has been slammed for spending money on influencers ahead of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow later this year.
A Freedom of Information request by the Daily Record has revealed that the SNP Government has spent £289,092.75 on private firms in preparation for the crucial summit in November.
Global leaders will attend the conference, to be held from October 31 to November 12, in what is seen as a critical moment for the future of the planet.
The conference is the most significant since COP21 in Paris in 2015. In Glasgow world leaders will work to ensure that global warming is kept to 1.5 degrees.
The most spent by the Scottish Government was on SYSTRA Limited, a London-based firm, for travel demand management services while £2,928.75 was splashed out on Stripe Communications for "influencer outreach identifying contacts interested in engaging with Scotland on the topic of climate change".
Taxpayer money spent by the government in Edinburgh was over 17 months from February 2020 to April this year.
It's not the first time the Scottish Government has spent money on social media stars.
In 2018, the government forked out £17,000 to American influencers for all-expense paid trips to Scotland for favourable online reviews.
Four stars were given freebie visits and put in up plush five-star accommodation.
Opposition parties have slammed Nicola Sturgeon's government for spending cash on influencers during the pandemic.
Monica Lennon, Scottish Labour's Net Zero, Energy and Transport spokesperson, said: "COP26 should be a turning point in the fight against the climate crisis.
"The SNP should be doing all it can to ensure that Glasgow is presented in the best terms for the conference.
"To be spending thousands on influencers while Glasgow faces a waste crisis is misguided."
Scottish Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, Liam Kerr MSP: “When public finances are struggling to cope with the demands of Covid and the climate crisis, people will wonder whether spending money on things like 'influencers' is the best and most productive use of taxpayers’ money.
"COP26 is a great opportunity to put the UK and Scotland’s environment and climate credentials on the map. It must not be used as an excuse to give away public money without being absolutely certain of the benefits, outcomes and deliverables.
"SNP ministers need to explain why this money has been spent on “influencers” instead of helping people and businesses with the transition to a net zero economy."
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "COP26 is a unique opportunity to advance the society and economy-wide transformation demanded by the climate and nature crises. This spend will support the delivery of a major public engagement campaign in the run up to COP26.
"The campaign will help make sure that people from all across the country are engaged in our collective response to the climate emergency."
How much has the Scottish Government spent?
SYSTRA Limited - £115,028
Cubic Transportation Systems Limited - £27,954
Mott MacDonald - £98,662
The Leith Agency - £35,240
Stripe Communications - £2,928.75
Whitespace - £9,280
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