Shetland MSP Hannah Mary Goodlad has been in the spotlight since her election this May. As the first SNP representative for her constituency, she’s been widely recognised as having run an impressive local campaign. 

Catapulted into the important role of minister for public finance shortly afterwards, Goodlad soon earned the ‘One To Watch’ gong at the annual political awards ceremony run by Holyrood Magazine. 

But it transpires the 36-year-old isn’t particularly keen on being kept an eye on. Last night she branded the Scottish press ‘peerie (little) trolls’ after coming under fire for advertising both an Artist In Residence and Shetland ‘scriever’ (writer) to join her constituency team – a creative approach to taxpayer’s funds. 

Slamming critics in the press as ‘causing mischief,’ she justified the posts as ‘good jobs’ for local artists. In a video posted to social media, she asked, ‘whit’s no tae like?’ as she signed off. Online acolytes – she is certainly popular – applauded.  

The Artist in Residence post comes with an £11k fee over four months, with duties including conveying the minister’s political message to ‘the general public and media’. That no free-thinking artist worth their salt would create on-demand ditties or sculptures at the behest of a powerful political figure seems to have passed Ms Goodlad........

© The Spectator