herdman75
05-02-2007, 11:03 AM
:eek:
Article from the Scotsman. 040207.
Is it just me or is this disgusting?
Labour told: don't mention the war
EDDIE BARNES
POLITICAL EDITOR
SCOTS Labour Party members have been banned from discussing the Iraq war, the future of Britain's nuclear arsenal or any other "non-Scottish" issues in the run-up to the Holyrood elections.
A letter from Lesley Quinn, the general secretary of the Scottish Labour Party, was issued to branches last month, requesting that members only debate issues relating directly to the election.
It has already led to one branch in the west of Scotland being forced to ditch a formal debate on the replacement of the UK's Trident weapons, prompting fury from party members who believe open discussion is being barred.
Critics last night accused the party of "control freakery" and said it smacked of growing panic in the party that it was losing voters because of the unpopularity of its nationwide policies.
Quinn's letter comes with some Labour MSPs admitting they are suffering from the constant deluge of bad headlines from south of the Border centring on the cash-for-honours affair and foreign policy. Party chiefs commonly send out instructions to members during the official campaign period, urging them to focus on the election ahead. But the campaign proper does not start until early April, so angry Labour members have been shocked to receive Quinn's instructions so early.
One member, David Torrance from Clydebank, said: "We were told there was a letter from Lesley Quinn stating that no business should be discussed at branch meetings other than business pertaining to the election in May. This has gone to every Labour branch. This is usually the position during a campaign, not months beforehand."
Another party source said: "No explanation has been given. It has caused irritation. It would be better if we were given more time to get through our normal business."
Critics leapt on the claims last night. A spokesman for the SNP said: "All this does is show up the underlying fear of the Labour campaign and the control freakery from the centre.
"It's particularly laughable that Tony Blair calls for a national debate on Trident, and that Jack McConnell calls for a national debate, but the general secretary of the Scottish Labour Party says that members can't debate. It is farcical."
However, in a briefing on Friday, McConnell played down fears that the Scots Labour campaign could be overrun by events south of the Border.
He said: "I think there is a far greater level of interest in this election than four years ago.
I think we are going to see the most robust political debate in Scotland for a very, very long time so I am actually quite optimistic about the fact that the Scottish elections are going to get coverage."
On Quinn's letter, a spokesman for the Scottish Labour Party said: "This is a statement that goes out before every election. We suspend business meetings so that people can get involved in the campaign.
"The whole point of this is so that people are not sitting in a room talking about things instead of organising for an election. The party wants people to get focused on the campaign. It was there in 2003 when there was no debate about Trident. It is a positive focus on the campaign. It is not about stopping people from debating things."
Article from the Scotsman. 040207.
Is it just me or is this disgusting?
Labour told: don't mention the war
EDDIE BARNES
POLITICAL EDITOR
SCOTS Labour Party members have been banned from discussing the Iraq war, the future of Britain's nuclear arsenal or any other "non-Scottish" issues in the run-up to the Holyrood elections.
A letter from Lesley Quinn, the general secretary of the Scottish Labour Party, was issued to branches last month, requesting that members only debate issues relating directly to the election.
It has already led to one branch in the west of Scotland being forced to ditch a formal debate on the replacement of the UK's Trident weapons, prompting fury from party members who believe open discussion is being barred.
Critics last night accused the party of "control freakery" and said it smacked of growing panic in the party that it was losing voters because of the unpopularity of its nationwide policies.
Quinn's letter comes with some Labour MSPs admitting they are suffering from the constant deluge of bad headlines from south of the Border centring on the cash-for-honours affair and foreign policy. Party chiefs commonly send out instructions to members during the official campaign period, urging them to focus on the election ahead. But the campaign proper does not start until early April, so angry Labour members have been shocked to receive Quinn's instructions so early.
One member, David Torrance from Clydebank, said: "We were told there was a letter from Lesley Quinn stating that no business should be discussed at branch meetings other than business pertaining to the election in May. This has gone to every Labour branch. This is usually the position during a campaign, not months beforehand."
Another party source said: "No explanation has been given. It has caused irritation. It would be better if we were given more time to get through our normal business."
Critics leapt on the claims last night. A spokesman for the SNP said: "All this does is show up the underlying fear of the Labour campaign and the control freakery from the centre.
"It's particularly laughable that Tony Blair calls for a national debate on Trident, and that Jack McConnell calls for a national debate, but the general secretary of the Scottish Labour Party says that members can't debate. It is farcical."
However, in a briefing on Friday, McConnell played down fears that the Scots Labour campaign could be overrun by events south of the Border.
He said: "I think there is a far greater level of interest in this election than four years ago.
I think we are going to see the most robust political debate in Scotland for a very, very long time so I am actually quite optimistic about the fact that the Scottish elections are going to get coverage."
On Quinn's letter, a spokesman for the Scottish Labour Party said: "This is a statement that goes out before every election. We suspend business meetings so that people can get involved in the campaign.
"The whole point of this is so that people are not sitting in a room talking about things instead of organising for an election. The party wants people to get focused on the campaign. It was there in 2003 when there was no debate about Trident. It is a positive focus on the campaign. It is not about stopping people from debating things."