Hyslop Cleared Over T Grant

A public spending watchdog has cleared Scotland’s culture secretary Fiona Hyslop of any wrongdoing over a £150,000 government grant to the T In The Park festival.

As reported by The Gen, claims of “cronyism” broke out after it was revealed that a former SNP advisor working for T In The Park helped the festival secure the grant from the Scottish government.

DF Concerts’ project manager Jennifer Dempsie set up a meeting between Hyslop and the promoter’s CEO, Geoff Ellis, which resulted in Hyslop signing off the “one-off grant funding support” for the event’s relocation at a new site at Strathallan Castle.

The BBC reports that Audit Scotland concluded there was a “clear rationale for the grant” and that it had been a “legitimate policy decision” for Hyslop, consistent with advice she received from officials. However, the watchdog added that there was a need for “enhanced internal clarity and evidence to support decision-making” when such decisions were made in the future.

So, a slap on the wrist but the watchdog has decided that there is nothing to see here so you should all move along and watch The Stone Roses, Calvin Harris and The Red Hot Chilli Peppers headline the festival this year from July 8th-10th.

Rumours that the promoters have audaciously applied to the Scottish Government for a grant to relocate The Stone Roses from Manchester to Strathallan Castle cannot be confirmed at this stage.

In other cheerful T in the Park news, The Courier reports that organisers plan to “radically overhaul” its traffic systems and security management following operational issues during the first year on the new site.