Stalinist diktat to crush any hint of dissent from within
A ‘STALINIST’ ban on Nationalist MPs speaking out against party policy was agreed in private by SNP members yesterday.
Activists ‘ overwhelmingly’ endorsed a resolution saying no member of the SNP team at Westminster ‘shall within, or outwith, the parliament publicly criticise a group decision, policy or another member of the group’.
They also agreed to consider all-women shortlists for the first time.
But the Press was unable to report on the level of dissent, as the debate was held during an internal session.
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said: ‘This is the Stalinist discipline of a party with something to hide. People will believe they were scared of their membership saying what they truly thought about all-women shortlists.’
Although every major party at Westminster has whips who tell MPs how to vote, the Tories, Labour and Lib Dems all have backbenchers who speak out against the leadership.
Their hopes of a ministerial job are usually dashed as a result but their commitment to a cause is often admired by constituents and can lead to humiliating defeats for the Government.
However, it is rare for SNP politicians to be brave enough to criticise the party leadership.
Scottish Tory chief whip John Lamont said: ‘It’s clear Nicola Sturgeon will try to rule her party with an iron fist. Presumably, given his recent behaviour, Alex Salmond will be exempt from these instructions.
‘With rhetoric like this, SNP candidates must be scared of their own shadows.’
The conference also voted on all-women shortlists, which have been used by Labour for years. Currently, there are 17 female Nationalist MSPs and 47 males in the Scottish parliament.
But the Avondale branch of the Clydesdale Constituency Association yesterday put forward an amendment to scupper the proposed change.
Avondale secretary Patrick McGuire said last week: ‘Most people at a branch meeting felt if there is a selection process for anything, it should be the best person – regardless of gender.’
It is not known how many SNP members indicated their opposi- tion to the proposed rule change, as the media was barred from the debate.
SNP national women’s officer Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh said: ‘Women represent 52 per cent of the population in Scotland – yet for too long have been massively underrepresented in public life.
‘While the SNP has made some progress in our selection of candidates for the General Election, it was always clear that more action needed to be taken.
‘Women are bearing the brunt of the Tory government’s austerity cuts and suffer from the effects of a gender pay gap and a clear lack of representation.
‘In 21st century Scotland, this is simply unacceptable and shows exactly why we need Scotland’s women to be fully represented in our national parliament.
‘Today’s move will enable our party to take reasonable and sensible action to ensure gender equality amongst our candidates – and to guarantee that there are no longer any barriers to women playing a full role in the political process.’
Scottish Labour deputy leader Kezia Dugdale accused the SNP of ‘Stalinist discipline’. But a Nationalist spokesman said: ‘Kezia Dugdale’s over-the-top language is absurd. She should reconsider these comments.’
The row comes only days after Miss Sturgeon was accused of behaving like Vladimir Putin.
Westminster Tory whip and former MSP Ben Wallace claimed the First Minister was trying to break up Britain with tactics used by the Russian president in the Ukraine crisis.
He said: ‘I’m talking about the early days in the Ukraine crisis, before the tanks, when he spread division and fear in order for it to splinter apart.’
Miss Sturgeon used her conference speech on Saturday to claim she wants to send a message of ‘friendship and solidarity’ to English voters.