Dear All
The Labour Party has decided to pick former
MSP Karen Whitefield as its candidate to become MP.
She served served three terms at Holyrood
representing Airdrie and Shotts before losing her seat to the SNP's Alex Neil
in 2011.
As part of her platform, she talks about
the battle to win back trust.
If you can’t be trusted to uphold the Data
Protection Act 1998, then you have a long road to travel.
Ms. Whitefield has blotted her copy book in
public office.
Ms Whitefield after winning selection said:
"I am delighted that Labour members in
Falkirk have put their faith in me to fight this vital election. We have a hard
battle ahead in winning back the trust of the people of Falkirk and it is an
opportunity we do not take for granted. I am determined that we will do it by
fighting on the issues that matter to these communities."
She added:
"We have a Tory Government that is
doing nothing about the cost of living crisis and an SNP Government that wants
to use damaging decisions like the bedroom tax to make an argument for
independence rather than protecting people. If people put their faith in me, I
will always put Falkirk first."
The seat became up for grabs when former
Labour MP Eric Joyce got into a spot of bother with alcohol and then fighting
with people and then the Police.
Joyce could have been a Minister if he had
sailed an even course; however that is all gone now.
Johann Lamont, Scottish Labour Leader,
said:
"Karen will be a fantastic candidate
and a strong voice for the people of these communities. I look forward to
campaigning with Karen."
The battle for Falkirk wasn’t a pleasant
affair, with allegations of vote rigging flying about the place.
It led to a national scandal.
The Unite union was signing up new party
members in an effort to secure preferred candidate Karie Murphy's selection.
Then it all went pear shaped.
Labour's National Executive Council imposed
an all-women list of three for the local party to select from, Linda Gow, a
Labour Councillor who made the original complaint against Unite, was devastated
to find herself frozen out of the process.
Labour hopes the selection of Ms Whitefield
will help to close the book on a period of civil war within the local party in
Falkirk, I am struggling to see how she fits the bill.
Ms Whitefield added:
"I'll be campaigning for a fairer and
more just Scotland. I don't think it is right that we have got a Government
that would rather reward millionaires than hard-working families. I don't think
it is right that we have got a Government that is more interested in protecting
payday loan companies than regulating them. Those are the issues that I will be
campaigning on, and I'm sure that the Labour Party will be campaigning with me
too. If we campaign on those issues Labour will, and can, win the next general
election."
Are there people standing who don’t use the
traditional; "I'll be campaigning for a fairer and more just Scotland”?
It is almost a cliché now; then they get
into public office and follow the party whip.
Well, she should get elected based on the
Labour Party brand rather than her personal qualities.
However the people have the right to choose
someone else, and in her case perhaps that would be better with the exception
of the SNP drone.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow
University
I'm informed that Ms Whitefield worked for Unite in the past, and if that is correct, it's a pretty dumb move from the Falkirk labour party.
ReplyDeleteAs my former MSP, I took a keen interest in Bingo Whitefield. She ALWAYS backed the party over the constituency, and was meticulous is her expenses claims, with no amount too small to leave out. I'm sure it will be a relief for her to have the taxpayer paying her newspapers, petrol and electricity again.
The Westminster gravy train is going to need a bigger buffet car if she is elected.