A SENIOR SNP politician has been handed a vote in Labour’s leadership elections – prompting concerns around the party’s electoral systems.
Labour bosses were told to take “urgent measures” after Holyrood’s SNP chief whip was given an affiliate vote through the trade union Unite.
It comes just days after MP Ian Murray, who is running in Labour’s deputy leadership race, warned the party to make sure supporters of other parties are not able to cast a vote in the election because of their affiliate membership.
Writing to the party’s general secretary Jennie Formby, Murray expressed concern that SNP and Green members could vote in the election and asked what extra checks were being carried out on the additional 103,000 affiliate members added to Labour’s database since the beginning of the campaign.
MSP George Adam confirmed he had been offered a vote by Unite despite having “told the union on numerous occasions” of his position as an SNP representative for Paisley.
Adam said he had even received a leaflet from Jackie Baillie – who is running for Scottish Labour depute leader – at his home as part of her campaign.
Murray, who was left as the sole Scottish Labour MP after December’s General Election, said: “Without urgent measures to ensure that every voter shares Labour’s values in line with the rules, all confidence in the leadership elections will be shattered.
“Affiliate voters and registered supporters must now be re-checked to ensure that only those who have formally signed or affirmed they share Labour’s values have a vote on the future of our party.
“This is a huge task, but now a necessary one.
“SNP politicians clearly do not share Labour’s values of solidarity and internationalism, and nobody who is a member of the SNP – or any other party – should be participating in this ballot.
“It is grossly unfair on party members and dedicated trade unionists who proudly support the Labour movement.
“The party must guarantee that no member of any other party has a vote, and that means demanding that Unite produces evidence that every affiliate it has signed up shares Labour values.”
Labour is currently seeking a new leader and deputy leader at Westminster, as well as a deputy leader for the Scottish party.
Keir Starmer, Lisa Nandy and Rebecca Long-Bailey are the last three remaining in the main race, while Murray is up against Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, Richard Burgon, Dawn Butler and Angela Rayner for the deputy post. The results will be announced on April 4.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel