Crony row Salmond aide quits as election candidate
AN EX-special adviser to Alex Salmond at the heart of a ‘cronyism’ scandal over a £150,000 grant given to T in the Park is ending her bid to become a Nationalist MSP.
Jennifer Dempsie, partner of SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson, set up meetings attended by DF Concerts chief executive Geoff Ellis and four Cabinet ministers – including Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop – while working as a project manager for the events firm.
The 33-year-old, who is believed to have begun seeing Mr Robertson after his marriage collapsed, won the job thanks to her political connections. She said on Facebook yesterday: ‘I have decided I will not be taking forward my nominations across the Highlands and Islands to be a list SNP MSP for the region.’
Her decision comes after former SNP leader Gordon Wilson called on party bosses to re-interview her as a prospective candidate, suggesting she had ‘personally lost credibility’.
She was cleared of any wrongdoing after an internal party i nvestigation, but watchdog Audit Scotland has announced its own probe.
A FORMER aide to Alex Salmond at the centre of a ‘cronyism’ row over state aid to stage T in the Park has abandoned her bid to become an MSP.
Jennifer Dempsie was criticised over claims she helped broker a deal between the festival’s promoter DF Concerts and Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop to access £150,000 of public money.
Miss Dempsie, whose partner is SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson, set up meetings attended by DF Concerts chief executive Geoff Ellis and four Cabinet ministers while working as a project manager for the firm.
Miss Dempsie managed its ‘strategic communication flow’ in the run-up to T in the Park’s move to a new venue at Strathallan Castle in Perthshire.
Miss Hyslop was later cleared of any wrongdoing after an internal party investigation – but watchdog Audit Scotland has announced its own probe.
The Culture Secretary may yet have to appear before the education and culture committee to explain her actions.
But Miss Dempsie appears to have bowed to mounting pressure by announcing she was ending her campaign for selection as a Nationalist list MSP for the Highlands and Islands.
On Facebook, she said: ‘I have decided I will not be taking forward my nominations across the Highlands and Islands to be a list SNP MSP for the region. I have realised there is still more I want to achieve in my career in business, with some exciting new opportunities arising.’
Her decision comes after former SNP leader Gordon Wilson called on party bosses to re-interview her as a prospective candidate, suggesting she had ‘personally lost credibility’.
Liam McArthur, a Lib Dem member of the committee, said: ‘The time has come to look seriously at this issue.
‘There’s almost certainly a reluctance among SNP members to do things that will embarrass the Government. We will see what comes out of the meeting but it would be highly regrettable if we were seen not to be taking this on.’
Miss Dempsie, 33, and Mr Robertson, 45, are believed to have begun a relationship following the collapse of the MP’s marriage. Yesterday, she declined to elaborate on her decision when approached at Mr Robertson’s former family home near Elgin, Moray.
During her time at DF Concerts, Miss Dempsie also arranged access to Finance Secretary John Swinney, Skills Secretary Roseanna Cunning-
‘Personally lost credibility’
ham and Transport Minister Derek Mackay. The Scottish Government has insisted Mr Swinney and Miss Cunningham were only interested in the event as constituency MSPs.
Miss Hyslop said the money was vital to ensure the ‘viability’ of the three-day concert as it relocated from its former home in Balado, Kinross-shire.
But Scottish Labour deputy leader Alex Rowley said: ‘The issue here isn’t the political ambitions of a single person, but whether or not i t was appropriate for a successful business to be receiving £150,000 in taxpayers’ cash.
‘Fiona Hyslop claimed T in the Park wouldn’t be viable without the payment. That barely sounds credible and she should now present the business case that was put before her for this state aid.’