The head of Scotland’s Public Service has been urged to take action over a “misleading and partisan” post on the Scottish Government’s official Twitter account.
Chair of the Opposition Scottish Conservative Party, Craig Hoy said the post breached the Civil Service Code and had clearly crossed any reasonable line.
Mr Hoy asked Permanent Secretary, John-Paul Marks (pictured) to make a ruling on the matter.
The tweet featured a short video clip outlining the Scottish Government’s economic case for independence.
It was timed to coincide with the publication of a new paper on the topic.
The video said independence would provide Scotland with the opportunity to fully utilise its “great economic strengths”.
“With independence, Scotland would no longer be tied to the United Kingdom’s Brexit-based economy, which evidence has shown has delivered low growth and high inequality,” the video said.
“New powers, combined with its existing strengths and firm economic foundations, would give Scotland an opportunity to build a better future for everyone who lives here.”
Mr Hoy accused the post of breaking Section 15 of the Civil Service Code, which states Public Servants must not “act in a way that is determined by party political considerations or use official resources for party political purposes”.
“There is a duty for Civil Servants to abide by the Civil Service Code when it comes to political impartiality, but this post clearly did not do that,” Mr Hoy said.
“It is another deeply worrying example of Government resources being used to promote Scottish National Party propaganda and the relentless push for a divisive independence referendum next year.”
He said this was “completely unacceptable”.
A Scottish Government spokesman said it would respond to Mr Hoy’s accusations in due course.
Edinburgh, 21 October 2022
