A JOANNA Cherry supporter has been given a boost in the race to be the SNP’s new national secretary. Several activists who were backing Marco Biagi have given their backing to David Henry after Biagi pulled out of the race.
The current post-holder, Angus MacLeod, is to step down. Biagi was defeated by former party deputy leader Angus Robertson in the party’s selection contest to elect the Holyrood candidate for Edinburgh Central. He later withdrew from the NEC election.
“A number of supporters for Marco Biagi who has now publicly pulled out of the race have been seen to publicly add their support for me as National Secretary on social media. I am very grateful for their support and would welcome many more,” Henry told The National.
Cherry launched a fierce attack on the SNP’s ruling body in September, urging delegates to the party’s annual conference this month to sack some of the NEC members when their membership comes to a vote.
Writing in The National, she accused unnamed NEC sources of briefing against her during last year’s General Election campaign as she fought to regain her seat and of concerted efforts to undermine her and get her deselected.
“During the General Election campaign briefing against me from NEC sources continued. This was upsetting not just for me but also for the SNP activists who were working hard in winter weather to have me re-elected as an SNP MP rather than sitting at home briefing Unionist newspapers against SNP candidates,” she said.
“The bulk of NEC members come up for re-election at conference ... I would hope that [delegates] would consider replacing those who are bringing the party into disrepute by using their position on the NEC to conduct personal vendettas or to clear the field of competition for their own candidacy bids or those of their friends.”
The election will take place at the SNP’s conference, which is being held online from November 28 to 30.
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