Swinney defends near £20,000 pay rise for SNP ministers as 'fair'
Monday, 14 April 2025 John Swinney has awarded his ministers a near £20,000 wage rise but has turned down the pay bump himself to avoid the perception he is "benefiting" from his own decisions.
Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar has hailed his party’s shock victory in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-elections, saying the results sent a “clear message” from the Scottish people, who he says are “sick of the SNP” and “reject the poison of Farage”. Scottish Labour stunned the SNP to win the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election by just 602 votes, whilst Reform UK beat the Conservatives into third place, just 800 votes shy of the SNP in second. Report by Faragt. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Scottish Labour stunned the SNP to win the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election by just 602 votes, whilst Reform UK beat the Conservatives into third place, just 800 votes shy of the SNP in second. Newly-elected Davy Russell celebrated the victory, claiming the SNP had "let down" the Scottish people and that the 'poison' of Reform was not welcome in Scotland. Report by Faragt. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Monday, 14 April 2025
John Swinney has awarded his ministers a near £20,000 wage rise but has turned down the pay bump himself to avoid the perception he is "benefiting" from his own decisions.
![Scottish Labour: People are sick of SNP and reject Reform [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20250606/1413153200-Scottish-Labour-People-are-sick-of-SNP-and.jpg)
![Scottish Labour's shock victory in Hamilton by-election [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20250606/1413127584-Scottish-Labour-shock-victory-in-Hamilton-by.jpg)
