Beleaguered politician Natalie McGarry has advertised for three new staff to work in her Glasgow office, including an administrator whose duties will include “assisting with office finances” and an aide who will be asked to oversee her “online presence”.
The Glasgow East MP resigned the SNP whip in November last year when Women for Independence, a campaign group she co-founded, contacted police over money missing from its accounts. She denies any wrongdoing.
Last week Ms McGarry - a former convenor of the Glasgow regional association of the SNP - agreed to provide financial documentation to the group following claims it could not account for more than £4,000 from a bank account.
Ms McGarry has also been dogged by controversy over comments on social media website Twitter.
Lawyers for Alastair Cameron, director of Scotland in Union, served a writ on Ms McGarry recently after she failed to respond to a request for an apology over allegations she made about Mr Cameron.
She was also involved in a spat with author JK Rowling which ended when Ms McGarry apologised and donated cash to children’s charity Lumos.
Ms McGarry currently employs three people. A fourth member of staff recently left her employment.
She is recruiting a further three people, including a part-time administrative assistant who will be paid £18,000 - £22,000 pro rata to assist with office administration and finances.
She also wants to hire a “parliamentary assistant” who will be paid £20,000 to £24,000, and a “constituency assistant” on a similar salary whose duties will include “managing online presence such as Facebook and website”.
MPs who represent constituencies outside London have £140,000 a year to spend on staff.
Ms McGarry said: “I lost one member of staff recently and I have significant budget underspend so in order to increase activity in the constituency and create more jobs in the east end I’ve decided to hire more people.
“It’s about breakdown on how you choose to allocate the hours. Some are part-time positions. Some people in my constituency may need flexible working – mothers, for example – and I want to accommodate that.”
She added: “MPs employ people all the time. These things ebb and flow. Other MPs have taken it right up to capacity but I haven’t.
“These are good jobs and I’ve already had a lot of applications.”
Ms McGarry declined to comment on legal matters.
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