Scotland’s unpopular DFM Nicola Sturgeon not wanted at major economic conference, SNP gets petty and angry at Alastair Darling taking the top spot

Dear All

It seems that Scotland’s unpopular Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been banned from speaking at a major economic conference.

The event is semi prestigious, although it is run by the Glasgow Labour Council, Glasgow's annual State of the Economy Conference.

After being rebuffed by the Labour Council, the SNP has started a war of words accusing Scotland's biggest Labour-run council of snubbing Sturgeon.

The honour of guest speaker has gone to former chancellor Alistair Darling.

In typical sour grapes fashion the SNP accused the city's Labour administration of using the event as part of its anti-independence campaign.

And in making an issue of it publicly shows how petty they are with the city council dismissing the claim by saying they had initially offered the role of keynote speaker to Finance Minister John Swinney.

He knocked it back and in retrospect perhaps he should have accepted, all water under the bridge now.

The SNP Government had the offer and Swinney's office said he was unable to attend, that’s the way the ball bounces.

Ms Sturgeon as a replacement wasn’t acceptable, and her recent outings at public speaking haven’t exactly set the heather on fire, what does she know about the economy?

John Swinney is much better informed and by far a much better speaker on the subject matter.

One source claimed on choice of speaker:

"We'll not be having the Scottish Government determine who speaks in a conference in Glasgow, organised by Glasgow and about Glasgow."

Awhile ago the Scottish Government refused permission by Glasgow for the use of the new transport museum on the Clyde for the launch of its travel smartcard plans.

This was petty and patently not forgotten, Ms Sturgeon staging the event on the city's Buchanan Street instead.

A pedestrian walkway, the new transport museum on the Clyde would have been a much better location for something which should have been a joint partnership event.

Since Team Sturgeon lost the 2012 Council election due to outright stupidity, they wrongly believe they are effectively the ‘council in waiting’.

2017, I would predict a Labour victory based on the poisonous nasty vile little clique round Sturgeon.

Saying these people are too stupid to win doesn’t do them justice.

A leading SNP source said:

"Nicola wouldn't have had an issue speaking with Alistair Darling. Where we are constitutionally it could've made an interesting balance of views for Glasgow. But when you look at the recent incidents with how Glasgow has responded to a Government request you'll see there's a pattern with Nicola."

The pattern is people don’t like her!

I would suspect that is to do with her attitude.

An SNP spokesman said:

"It is a sad disservice to the people of Glasgow for the Labour council to refuse the Cabinet Secretary with responsibility for infrastructure and cities for an important conference on Glasgow's economy, in favour of a backbench opposition MP who represents Edinburgh. It is also extremely unwise for the Labour council to give the impression they are trying to turn this event into a platform for the No campaign."

‘It’s not where you are from but where you are going”!

Do you remember that SNP slogan? The spokesman perhaps has a poor memory, it makes no difference that Darling is from Edinburgh or that Darling is a back bench MP. He has a wealth of economic experience that Nicola Sturgeon doesn’t and never had.

Do a few months as Cabinet Secretary with responsibility for infrastructure and cities make her an expert on the economy?

No.

A council spokesman said:

"Alistair Darling is a former Chancellor of the Exchequer and an expert on the UK economy, and is therefore an appropriate speaker at our event. In fact, we have been trying to secure his attendance for a number of years."

So, is the attitude of the Glasgow Labour Council correct?

Looking at the way they have been treated by the SNP Government, I would say yes, treat people badly and what goes around comes around.

Although Ms. Sturgeon is terribly popular in her nasty little clique, it doesn’t extend much beyond that, persona non grata with the Catholic Church and now persona non grata with Glasgow Labour Council.

God, they must be laughing their heads off down the City Chambers, first they blow her out and then when the SNP whingeing started they had the evidence that the SNP did get an offer to speak but turned it down.

Not wanted, oh the embarrassment but in fairness she shouldn’t feel too bad, she lost out to someone who was much much better in so many ways!

Yours sincerely

George Laird

The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University