McConnell Must Answer Questions Over Hugh Henry

SNP MSP Colin Campbell has today (Tuesday) written to Jack McConnell demanding an explanation of the sleaze that surrounds Hugh Henry.

The new Deputy Health Minister spent years as a leading member of the Renfrew Labour Party at a time when it was beset by a succession of scandals. Mr Campbell said:

"Hugh Henry either knew about the sleaze in Renfrewshire and ignored it or else was so incompetent that he was unaware of the serious misconduct that colleagues were involved in.

"I raised this with Jack McConnell today however the First Minster refused to answer. Given his recent commitment to ending sleaze and cronyism he must now explain how Hugh Henry can be considered qualified to be a Scottish Executive minister.

"Hugh Henry was leader of Renfrew Council at a time when it was knee deep in sleaze. He ruled over a Labour Party that was repeatedly disgraced by financial mismanagement, cronyism and factionalism.

"He was Leader of the Labour Group on Renfrew Council at a time when funds were going missing from Renfrewshire Unemployed Workers Centre. He was a leading light in the Party during the scandal that beset Ferguslie Community Business and he was a central player in the Party when the now disgraced Tommy Graham was endorsed as a candidate.

"It is extremely difficult to believe that Hugh Henry did not know of the sleaze in which his party was immersed.

"Action was only taken after public scrutiny was brought to bear. Hugh Henry must explain why he was happy to apparently stand-by while sleaze swirled around him. Either he ignored it or else was so incompetent that he didn't know what was going on.

"Either way, Jack McConnell has to explain how it is that a man so immersed in the cronyism and sleaze of the Renfrew Labour Party is fit to be a minister in the Scottish Executive."