Hypocritical 'Champagne Socialist'! Scottish Union Boss Owns Idyllic Holiday Home on Jura

• Tap here to go to the Scotland homepage for the newest updates on news and sports.

The top trade union official in Scotland finds herself at the heart of a significant hypocrisy controversy due to her possession of a secondary residence.

We can disclose that Roz Foyer, who holds the position of General Secretary for the Scottish Trades Union, has been identified. Congress (STUC) possesses two residences – even though they have openly criticized the issue of secondary homes.

Ms Foyer, earning as much as £100,000 annually, attributes the worsening of Scotland’s housing and cost-of-living crises to the prevalence of second-home ownership.

A recent inquiry conducted by this newspaper has led to allegations of clear 'hypocrisy' against the prominent union leader, who manages a federation comprising 40 trade organizations nationwide.

We can disclose that Ms Foyer and her spouse own a vacation cabin on the picturesque Isle of Jura, along with their four-bedroom family house in the verdant outskirts northwest of the city. Glasgow .

The charming two-story house constructed of stone, estimated to be valued at approximately £150,000, stands in a small village only a short distance away from the place where George Orwell penned his renowned dystopian book 1984.

Earlier this month, an MSP from the Labour party stated during a discussion at Holyrood that the increasing number of vacation properties is complicating things for employees in the public sector—the same group that Ms Foyer says she stands for.

Last night Scottish Conservative finance and local government spokesman Craig Hoy blasted Ms Foyer’s double standards.

He stated: 'Hypocrisy is the creed of champagne socialism. We anticipate Roz Foyer's criticism of Roz Foyer.'

Stalwart trade unionist Ms Foyer was appointed to the top job in Scotland, representing 500,000 workers, in 2020.

As the first woman appointed to the position in the collective’s long history, she pledged to help tackle the stereotype of unions being only for blue-collar men and revealed her mission to amplify the ‘working class’ voice.

Ms Foyer has repeatedly spoken out about the negative impact second homes have on communities.

In defense of the STUC’s stance articulated in July 2023, advocating for a 300 percent additional council tax levy on secondary and vacant properties to address homelessness in Scotland, Ms Foyer penned that it was high time the riches of Scotland were distributed more equitably.

She stated: "It’s impossible for us to address the ongoing shortage of housing and unacceptable rates of homelessness across the nation if the Scottish Government keeps pursuing policies that bolster landlord dominance."

'A surcharge on district council taxes for properties that remain unoccupied, including second homes and short-term rentals, could supply much-needed additional funds to local councils. This measure might encourage property owners to make these homes available, boost income levels over time, and ultimately help reduce rental prices.'

Several months afterward, in December, she extended her critique of second-home proprietors when she endorsed the new Scottish law enabling municipalities to increase the council tax on these properties twofold.

She stated: "Scotland is dealing with a concurrent housing crisis, a public sector funding shortage, and a cost-of-living emergency that is exerting immense pressure on those who work."

‘Second homes and short-term lets can have significantly negative impacts on communities, exacerbating these crises as well as undermining the local economy.’

In February 2024, an article in the local paper featured Mrs Foyer pointing out the significant amount of vacant long-term residences and holiday homes in the Highland area.

She stated that 'employees in the Highlands are dealing with a severe housing shortage' and then noted that statistics provided by the Scottish Government indicated a significant rise of almost 670 percent in long-term vacant homes in the region.

However, despite admitting that second homes cause serious problems for rural communities, title deeds obtained by The Mail show that Ms Foyer bought a property on Jura with her husband, fellow trade union official Simon Macfarlane, for £45,000 in 2012.

The pretty cottage enjoys a lovely spot on Jura which is known as one of Europe’s ‘last lost wildernesses’ and boasts a small population of around 220.

Click here to visit the Scotland home page for the latest news and sport

Similar properties on Jura have been recently valued at around £150,000.

Ms Foyer along with her spouse, Mr Macfarlane—who holds the position of regional manager at the trade union Unison—are reportedly mostly found at their home located within a private community close to Maryhill in Glasgow. This property was acquired by their family in 2015 for £280,111. They often reside there with their two daughters.

They travel to the distant island, famous for its smoky whiskey, for family vacations, and they are thought to have gone on a journey there just last month.

Residents have spotted Ms Foyer and her family taking leisurely walks along Jura’s shores.

Even though she resides in Glasgow, Ms Foyer is still a member of the Isle of Jura Community Group on Facebook and has provided old Wellington boots and puzzles to the locals.

Earlier this month, the topic of secondary residences was discussed in the Scottish Parliament as part of a motion proposed by Ross Greer from the Scottish Green Party.

The conversation raised worries that an abundance of holiday properties has led to soaring house prices and rents, consequently decreasing available housing for locals.

Scottish Labour Party member of parliament for Scottish Parliament, Carol Mochan, stated that vacation properties are complicating efforts to hire and keep employees in the public service sector.

She stated: 'The shortage of reasonably priced homes impacts more than just individuals and neighborhoods; it also hinders local enterprises from attracting employees.'

'Importantly, the shortage of affordable homes also impacts the ability to hire staff for public services.'

She continued: ‘I have strong evidence of that from the Borders area of my South Scotland region.

‘Trade unions have told me that people are not coming to work in the area or are having to travel a long distance, which sometimes involves a journey of an hour or more, to get to their work.

'That approach isn't sustainable. The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee has received strong testimony regarding this matter, both through verbal accounts and during their trip to the islands.'

'The health boards have characterized the circumstances as a crisis regarding service provision. This is a highly significant matter.'

Nonetheless, a spokesperson for the STUC stated yesterday: "The General Secretary has maintained transparency and clarity regarding our stance on higher taxes for individuals with substantial assets."

'She completely backs this policy and thus actively promotes it, accepting responsibility for the extra taxes it will bring.'

Read more