GOOD evening, my name is James and welcome to the new weekly newsletter focusing on the highest Branch Office in the land.
The fourth free newsletter is below for you to have a read as I bring you the week's latest news and gaffes from Scottish Labour, as they attempt to challenge the SNP/Green Government and avoid being disciplined by head honcho Keir Starmer.
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Up but still a way to go
Scottish Labour is gaining ground on the SNP in the wake of the party’s crisis over finances according to a recent poll.
That being said, it isn’t all doom and gloom for pro-indy voters.
While Labour has overtaken the party when it comes to the regional list ballot, the SNP is still in the lead when it comes to constituency voting intention for a Holyrood election as well as General Election voting intention – although that has dropped 10 points on the 2019 UK vote.
Yousaf’s approval rating is now minus 17, down ten points from last month.
But the good news for the SNP leader is that Scottish voters believe he would be a better First Minister for Scotland than Anas Sarwar, who he leads 31% to 29%.
The Rutherglen Ruckus
It's an open rebellion in Rutherglen for Scottish Labour.
Labour’s selection process for a candidate to stand in a potential by-election has been met with formal complaints and branded a “farce”.
On Saturday, two of their constituency branches wrote to Anas Sarwar and Keir Starmer to make a “formal complaint” to express concerns about the “integrity of the process” in drawing up the shortlist for prospective MPs.
Michael Shanks, who has previously stood for Labour in Glasgow Kelvin and Glasgow North West, is said to be the leadership's choice for the Rutherglen and Hamilton West seat.
One senior Scottish Labour figure told journalist Michael Crick that there had been "a total stitch-up" by party bosses to install Shanks "by excluding Leah Stalker, who is the favourite of local members, and Mo Razzaq, who is a popular councillor".
Martin Lennon, a Scottish Labour councillor in Rutherglen, called it a “complete farce”, adding that the “top three most popular candidates locally were all blocked” from standing in a potential race to replace Margaret Ferrier, the MP who is facing punishment for breaking Covid laws.
As it stands, Ferrier is facing a parliamentary suspension of 30 days, which she has appealed. However, should this be approved, a recall petition will be triggered and, if 10% of her constituents sign, a by-election will take place.
Lennon went on: "I've not spoken to a single person who's impressed. Everyone I've spoken to is upset.
"Local members pay their subs, deliver leaflets, go out door knocking. Out of the goodness of their heart, they donate their time to the party.
"To see them being disrespected like this is really quite shocking."
Asked previously if local Labour members would be the ones to choose their candidate, Ans Sarwar said: “Yes.”
At odds with HQ
Anas Sarwar is at odds with Keir Starmer after Scottish Labour said they remained committed to free university education in Scotland.
The UK Labour leader on Tuesday signalled he would abandon a previous pledge to scrap tuition fees in England, which drew a flurry of condemnation.
Starmer was then accused of having a “Nick Clegg moment” by SNP Wesmionster leader Stephen Flynn.
But the Scottish party have told The National that they remain committed to a 2021 manifesto pledge to maintain free tuition for Scottish students – arguing that Scottish Labour had long held a different policy on higher education than the UK party.
A spokesperson for Scottish Labour said: “Education policy in Scotland is determined by the Scottish Labour party not Keir Starmer.”
One wonders what the head honcho might think of that.
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