‘Jetset’ Gillian Martin Under Fire for £55k Brazil ‘Knees-Up’ Amid SNP Climate Failures
EDINBURGH – The Scottish Government’s Net Zero Secretary, Gillian Martin, has sparked a political firestorm following revelations that her recent trip to Brazil cost taxpayers more than £55,000. The “lavish” excursion, intended to promote Scotland’s environmental credentials at the COP30 summit in Belem, has earned her the nickname “Jetset Gillian” from critics who argue the spending is a slap in the face to a public facing biting austerity.
The staggering bill is the latest in a series of high-cost international trips taken by Martin, who is now being accused of attempting to usurp “Air Miles” Angus Robertson as the SNP’s most frequent flyer.
The Cost of a ‘Climate Junket’
New figures have pulled back the curtain on the true cost of Martin’s South American visit. While the Scottish Government initially attempted to downplay the expenditure, the itemized accounts reveal a “pretty penny” spent on luxury and convenience:
| Expense Category | Cost |
| Travel (Flights) | £10,000.68 |
| Accommodation | £6,418.76 |
| Subsistence | £104.03 |
| Associated Costs | £215.00 |
| Official Total (Personal) | £16,738.47 |
‘Jetset’ Gillian: SNP Minister Under Fire Over £55,000 Brazil Travel Bill
By David Walker, Politics Reporter Thursday, 29 January 2026
The Scottish Government’s Net Zero Secretary is facing a fresh wave of criticism after revelations that her recent trip to Brazil cost taxpayers more than £55,000. Gillian Martin, dubbed “Jetset Gillian” by political rivals, spearheaded a delegation to the COP30 climate summit in Belem last November. The trip was the third in a series of high-priced international excursions taken by the Minister in just three months, following official visits to Japan and New York.
New figures have detailed the “eye-watering” personal costs for the Minister’s South American visit, fueling allegations of business-class travel and luxury accommodation while the Scottish public grapples with a cost-of-living crisis and cuts to local services.
The £55,000 ‘Knees-Up’ in the Amazon
The breakdown of Martin’s personal expenses for the Brazil trip reveals a significant spend of public funds:
| Expense Category | Cost |
| Air Travel | £10,000.68 |
| Accommodation | £6,418.76 |
| Subsistence | £104.03 |
| Associated Costs | £215.00 |
| Total Personal Expenses | £16,738.47 |
Export to Sheets
When combined with the travel and accommodation for her accompanying “squad” of officials, the total bill for the single trip surged past £55,000. Critics have pointed out that the £10,000 flight cost strongly suggests the Minister flew in premium cabins, despite her brief to reduce carbon emissions and promote fiscal responsibility.
A Summer of Global Tours
The Brazil trip was merely the “crown jewel” in what opposition MSPs have described as a “lavish world tour.” In the autumn of 2025 alone, Martin missed three weeks of parliamentary time to attend:
- Climate Week in New York City: Promoting Scotland’s green energy sector.
- A “Trade Mission” to Japan: Racking up an additional £15,000 in official costs to discuss wind energy.
- COP30 in Brazil: The most recent £55,000 expenditure.
The timing of these trips has been labeled “the height of hypocrisy” by the Scottish Conservatives. They argue that while Martin was “jet-setting” across the globe, her own department was forced to admit that the SNP had failed to meet its “world-leading” 2030 climate targets, officially scrapping the legal goal as “out of reach.”
“While the public are being told to tighten their belts, ‘Jetset’ Gillian is living the high life on the taxpayer’s dime,” said Douglas Lumsden, Shadow Net Zero Secretary. “It is virtue-signalling of the highest order to burn thousands of tons of carbon flying to the Amazon just to talk about climate failures.”
A Portfolio Mired in Controversy
This latest spending scandal adds to a growing list of headaches for the Aberdeenshire East MSP. Martin’s tenure as Net Zero Secretary has been frequently interrupted by her past and present actions:
- The “Hairy Knuckle” Blogs: In 2018, Martin’s first ministerial appointment was sensationally blocked by Nicola Sturgeon after offensive blog posts were unearthed, in which she used derogatory language toward transgender women, Jewish people, and African Americans.
- SSEN Recusal: In December 2025, she was forced to recuse herself from key energy decisions involving infrastructure giant SSEN following accusations of “secretive” meetings that allegedly breached the ministerial code.
- Policy Defeats: Just last week, the SNP suffered a humiliating defeat in Holyrood as MSPs voted to strip an entire section from the government’s flagship Environment Bill, with Martin admitting she had to “accept the loss.”
Government Response
A Scottish Government spokesperson defended the travel, insisting that international presence is vital for securing investment in Scotland’s renewables sector.
“International engagement at events like COP30 is essential to ensure Scotland remains at the forefront of the global energy transition,” the spokesperson said. “Travel costs are always kept to a minimum and are subject to standard ministerial protocols.”
However, with a budget gap looming and her nickname “Jetset Gillian” sticking in the corridors of Holyrood, the political cost of this £55,000 trip may prove far higher than the financial one.
