Jack Continues With Culture Of Cronyism

The Labour party is once again embroiled in cronyism. This latest incident surrounds McConnell's astonishing attempts to breach parliamentary impartiality and independence by supporting Cathy Peattie to replace Patricia Ferguson as deputy presiding officer. Commenting leader of the Scottish National Party John Swinney MSP said:

"Every day exposes new examples of cronyism by Jack and the Labour party. Today, the First Minister is guilty of flagrantly breaching the impartiality and independence of the presiding officers. It is utterly unacceptable for him to politicise the role of the new deputy presiding officer in this way.

"The sheer arrogance of the Labour party is exemplified by the inclusion of a Labour sponsored motion in today's parliamentary business bulletin which reads: 'Jackie Baillie will replace Cathy Peattie on the Education Committee.'

"How on earth can Labour cronies justify abusing the Parliament in this way? The appointment to replace Patricia Ferguson is not supposed to political, yet clearly Labour wants to push Cathy Peattie into that position. This is an impartial role that Jack wants to fill with another of his cronies.

"Despite Jack's warm words that he will clean up the Labour party, he is becoming more and more responsible for the endemic cronyism that infests this divided party. Rather than focussing on addressing Scotland's problems, the Labour party only seem interested in helping their own. Once more, Labour are intent on riding roughshod over parliamentary democracy."