dws wrote:
Hold on, there's something not right here.

For the past year she's been hanging on for dear bloody life, with the arrogant stance of someone who believes themself completely bullet-proof, she gets what amounts to a slap on the wrist, and suddenly it's all too much?

There is something we're all missing here, I don't know precisly what but I think it may come to light when the leadership is to be decided. As has been previously alluded to, it's less of a competition and more of a game of musical chairs - if you're left standing when the music stops, you're the New Labour leader in Holyrood.

Interesting times indeed...

Hi DWS,

I'm told that this donations saga was going to drag on after parliament resumes in September. There was/is to be another investigation into a leak. Apparently on 15th June, Labour leaked to the press that Jim Dyer, the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, had submitted a report to a parliamentary committee stating that Alexander should have declared the contributions. I'm told this his leak was in breach of parliamentary rules as parliament had not been officially informed.

tinyurl.com/44ttce

Labour tried to put the blame for the leak onto the SNP. Unfortunately they were too quick with the leak as Dyer had only informed Alexander. It was only after they had given it to the press that they found out that the SNP had yet to be told of Dyer's report.

It looks as if Labour in Scotland have learned nothing about how to project a positive image of themselves. The main contenders for Labour leader at Holyrood were briefing against each other within hours of Alexander resigning. It looks as if we're in for a ringside seat whilst they feud, bicker and back-stab to get the prestigious title they so greatly covet. John Smith House is obviously not a place where people are pulling together in a happy atmosphere.


From the Times:

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article4232594.ece


Within hours of her resignation, rivals were already positioning themselves with the question of a poll on separatism foremost on their minds.

Kerr, the former health minister, installed yesterday as 1-4 favourite for the job, made it clear through friends that, under his leadership, Labour MSPs would support a referendum bill in parliament.

“The SNP have cleverly tried to damage us by suggesting we want to deny people a say,” said a source close to him.

“Andy wouldn’t handle things in the same way as Wendy — he wouldn’t do what Wendy did and talk about bringing forward his own bill on a referendum — but he doesn’t want to be seen to be standing in the way of it so you can expect him to support it in a vote in parliament.”

Gray, the party’s finance spokesman under Alexander, has told friends he would seek to block a poll.


“Iain’s view is that it would be foolish to support a referendum,” said one. “It would just turn into a ‘neverendum’ because the SNP wouldn’t accept a No result, they would just want another referendum and another referendum until they got the right answer. It just plays into the SNP’s hands.”

The contest also threatens to get personal. Supporters of Gray described Kerr as “polarising” and said colleagues had never forgiven him for briefing against fellow Labour MSPs before he became a minister.

“People have long memories about how he behaved as a backbencher, undermining people like Henry McLeish,” said one.

Kerr allies countered that Scottish Labour needs a leader with distance from Brown, now that the prime minister’s popularity is at an all-time low. “Gordon Brown would favour Iain, but Brown’s writ is all over,” said one.


“We need a Labour leader in Scotland who’s their own person, clearly responding to the needs of the people of Scotland. Andy would bring the best organisational background to that task. Iain has a problem with projecting himself.” Another supporter claimed Brown “only likes Gray because he does what he’s told”.

Do they think by making this public they enhance chances of success and endear themselves to the electorate? I would have thought they would have kept their bickering and back-stabbing in-house.

Clare

Talking of BBC Scotland. I was gobsmacked to read this one

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7479265.stm

Impartial? It could have been dictated by Wendy herself.

DavieDites wrote:
Clare

Talking of BBC Scotland. I was gobsmacked to read this one

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7479265.stm

Impartial? It could have been dictated by Wendy herself.

Hi Davie

I just read it. Unbelievable stuff and from the BBC too. Aren't broadcasters governed by a code of conduct too? If so how can the BBC and shows like Politics Now get away with such bias? Again, sorry to return to the Electoral Commission's acknowledgement that the law had indeed been broken by Alexander, but how can the BBC just choose to ignore that small but significant fact in all of this? Ok, the EC opted to take no further action, but they still found her guilty. Its as if it just didn't happen.

Jimbo

Kerr is one dangerous man. I hope lots of people remind him of the real mess he made over Monklands, over PFI et al and the fact that his lies over the savings to the taxpayer were exposed bigtime when the real figures emerged.

Tell you something tho, this is Labour in Scotland's last chance to get this right. If they can't deal with the massive internal fueds going on and instil some discipline they are sunk utterly. I think if they get it right they could perhaps restore some credibility but the signs are already that they intend to continue in the same way.

Clare wrote:
Tell you something tho, this is Labour in Scotland's last chance to get this right. If they can't deal with the massive internal fueds going on and instil some discipline they are sunk utterly. I think if they get it right they could perhaps restore some credibility but the signs are already that they intend to continue in the same way.

Hi Clare,

Labour have no clue as to how to deal with the situation, they've never been in the minority up here in living memory (if at all). They've always had the Bogeyman of the Tories to shake at the electorate, and are now completely bereft of ideas as to which way to turn (or spin).

Deep down, they still haven't recovered from their election defeat. It's a first for them in Scotland, and a year later, they're still in shock.

So, who'll be the next one ?
If New Labour aspire to run the Scottish Government, let's hope that they pick someone who has a successful track record of running a large scale operation. Not another party hack who has simply spent time as a student of politics and served as a loyal party researcher. And no more management consultants, please!

darkside wrote:
TLJ wrote:
So, who'll be the next one ? Margaret Curran ? Andy Kerr ? Will anyone want to do the job ?

A poisoned chalice or what ?

George Foulkes

I think you are right and he has been put in Scottish Parliament for that reason. What is a shame is there is no mention of Dr Simpson he is actually quite a nice man and unusually for Labour he is honest.

The Standards Committee

Convener:
Keith Brown (SNP) (19 June 2007-28 September 2007)

Deputy Convener:
Cathie Craigie (Lab) (19 June 2007-28 September 2007)

Members:
Keith Brown (SNP) (13 June 2007-28 September 2007)
Cathie Craigie (Lab) (13 June 2007-28 September 2007)
Marlyn Glen (Lab) (13 June 2007-28 September 2007)
Jamie McGrigor (Con) (13 June 2007-28 September 2007)
Christina McKelvie (SNP) (13 June 2007-28 September 2007)
Hugh O’Donnell (LD) (13 June 2007-28 September 2007)
Dave Thompson (SNP) (13 June 2007-28 September 2007)

Committee Substitutes:
Bob Doris (SNP) (14 June 2007-28 September 2007)
Trish Godman (Lab) (20 September 2007-28 September 2007)
Mike Rumbles (LD) (21 June 2007-28 September 2007)
David Whitton (Lab) (27 June 2007-20 September 2007)

Everybody that could have saved her abstained.

DavieDites wrote:
Clare

Talking of BBC Scotland. I was gobsmacked to read this one

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7479265.stm

Impartial? It could have been dictated by Wendy herself.

Hi Davie

Not unusual the BBC are totally Labour

I think all would agree that it is healthy in a democracy to have a strong opposition. A comparatively honest and earnest soul at the head of such an opposition would be a good starting point, but what good will it do if said person is merely a ventriliquist's dummy for Westminster?

McConnell's right. Labour need to take a long, hard look at themselves and decide where they're going, before the electorate decides for them.

It was announced today that the election for the leader of Scottish Labour will not take place until after the by-election. Labour do not want to lose this seat to SNP.

LYDIA REID wrote:
It was announced today that the election for the leader of Scottish Labour will not take place until after the by-election. Labour do not want to lose this seat to SNP.

....and it most certainly does not want the first headline following the election of the Leader to be the loss of a seat.