Dear All
The death of SNP councillor George Roberts was a terrible blow for his family, he was well liked and respected.
His death means that there will be a by-election in the Hillhead ward, pencilled in for 17th November.
Anxious for a double win, the SNP are putting pressure on Labour MSP Hanzala Malik to stand down thereby causing a double by-election.
From a political point of view, it would allow the SNP to get valuable information on whether their attempt to win the city of Glasgow is viable.
And a double by-election would be treated as a special by the SNP in much the same way as Glasgow East or Glasgow North East by-elections.
It would also see possibly the appearance of government ministers such as Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond with MSPs especially in Glasgow whipped to attend this event.
If it is a single by-election, it will probably be low key with numbers of activists reflecting that situation.
So, the SNP want a double but the Labour Party certainly has nothing to gain and everything to lose if they go down that road.
Hanzala Malik stuck his name on the Glasgow list for Holyrood, never thought he would be elected but stranger things happen at sea and he finds himself in Holyrood.
I saw him on election night at the SECC in the hall sitting behind the SNP, very friendly chap as he sat with his wife.
However, he is double jobbing being both a Labour MSP and Labour Councillor.
But he isn’t the only one from a political party doing that in the city.
SNP whip Councillor Graeme Hendry said:
“If the rumours are true that Hanzala Malik is refusing to stand down then he is treating the people of Hillhead with contempt.”
SNP Councillor Graeme Hendry has another job as well as his Coucnillor job, that is also double jobbing, doesn't see that as a problem the hypocrite.
I believe that everyone who is currently double jobbing in the city of Glasgow should step down, from whatever party, all councillors in my opinion should be full time, with the exception of those who are also in the administration of the council.
And a scandal in the offing is people employed by Scottish MSPs as staff standing for Council in the same wards their MSP represents.
This is also a case of double jobbing because effectively they are getting paid twice to handle the cases of constituents.
Maybe someone should do a story on that aspect, it is as big as scandal as the ALEO nonsense that the Labour Party was involved in.
The Labour Party has nothing to gain if Hanzala Malik steps down and everything to lose, Labour may not be terribly bright but they aren’t stupid when self interest is concerned.
Malik says he has a “moral duty” to stay until his term ends in 2012 which is hypocrisy as he was quick to point out in 2007 that an SNP MSP should give up his “inappropriate” second job as a Glasgow city councillor.
Oh how opinions change when the shoe is on the other foot.
The Hillhead by-election if it is a double will provide useful information on whether the SNP has a chance to win the city in 2012.
If it is a single seat, it is meaningless.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
No comments:
Post a Comment