THE appointment of the boss of a new Scottish Government advisory group has been slammed as a "conflicts of interest" after it emerged she is also the UK chair of one of the world’s biggest lobbyists.

Nora Senior is to chair the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board, with a brief to get the best value for public sector funds in those areas.

However, the appointment has come under fire from campaigners over Senior's other job as the UK chair of Webber Shandwick.

Willie Sullivan, director of the Electoral Reform Society, Scotland, said the interests of big business and public services could be at odds.

Sullivan, who is also a member of the Scottish Alliance on Lobbying Transparency, said: “It should be highlighted that Nora Senior is the UK chair of Webber Shandwick, one of the world’s largest corporate lobbyists.

“This raises a potential for conflicts of interests which need to be looked at. The interests of big business and the Scottish public do not always coincide."

Other members of the body include former Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander, Karen Betts of the Scotch Whisky Association, Steven Heddle of local government body Cosla, and Grahame Smith of the Scottish Trades Union Congress.

Sullivan said the appointments could detract from legislation aimed at improving transparency.

He said: “With the welcome introduction of the lobbying transparency register later in the year, voters need to be reassured that this case is not a back-alley route for big business to push their agenda, away from the sunlight of democratic scrutiny.”

Robin Mcalpine of the left-leaning campaign group Common Weal, echoing the criticism, said: “When I saw this list my jaw dropped. It is so heavily dominated by lobbyists and shows so little awareness of the real economic problems facing Scotland that it has got to the point that I find it hard to make head or tail of what this government is about."

In response, a Scottish Government spokesman said: “Members are leading figures from a wide range of backgrounds – from the college sector, to the trade union movement and hi-tech industries – and were chosen for their expertise and on merit.

“As former chair of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, Nora Senior will bring a wealth experience to this role.”