Row as Labour councillors veto cash for MPs
Bid to fund party’s election candidates voted down
LABOUR MPs fighting for their political survival in a traditional party heartland have been denied financial backing by colleagues on the council.
In a clear sign of party fractures amid the most intense pressure it has ever faced in Scotland, North Lanarkshire councillors voted against donating anything to their four MPs, who many predict will be unseated in the General Election.
A proposal by some councillors who work for North Lanarkshire’s parliamentarians for a smaller donation was also rejected.
The move against any cash backing was led by the authority’s leader, the veteran Jim McCabe, who has had numerous run-ins and turf wars with local MPs and MSPs through the years.
It was ruled out despite a flood of letters in the past week from Labour pleading for financial resources to help the final campaign push. Some of these were in the name of former First Minister and Lanarkshire MSP Jack McConnell and general secretary of Scottish Labour Brian Roy.
The snub also comes on the back of reports about the re-emergence of deep divisions within Labour as the party continues its freefall in the polls.
Leader of Unite Len McCluskey and Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy avoided a meeting at the weekend when the union chief was north of the Border campaigning for Labour, while Mr Murphy also appeared to have aimed a swipe at the party’s previous leadership for its place in the polls.
At last week’s meeting of North Lanarkshire’s Labour group, Kilsyth councillor Heather McVey requested colleagues give £1,500 to each of the party’s four local MPs, Gregg McClymont, Tom Clarke, Pamela Nash and Frank Roy.
The cash would have come from “group funds”, which councillors pay £10 a week towards and that is used for an annual levy to Labour nationally, local election campaigns and events such as bereavements.
However, sources at the meeting said Mr McCabe rejected the idea outright, with support from another veteran, Bill Shields.
A proposal supported by one of Mr Roy’s staffers Paul Kelly and Frank McNally, who works for MSP John Pentland, recommended giving each candidate £500 from group funds.
However, when this went to a group vote Mr McCabe’s recommendation to contribute nothing was carried by 17 hands to 11.
Last night Mr McCabe said: “I do not discuss Labour group business in public.”
But one source at the meeting said: “I’ve never known any MP to contribute anything to our campaign and these people aren’t short of money. They’re on an 11 per cent rise if they get back, while we’re practically on a minimum wage.
“I feel sorry for McClymont that he’s caught up in this but I wouldn’t give the others anything.
“The meeting was over in 15 minutes but it said a lot in that time, especially with McCabe leading against giving anything and those in and around the payrolls of the parliamentarians keen to give something.”
Another member of the Labour administration said: “We’ve just given the party £20,000 for the privilege of being councillors.
“There’s no appetite to give them any more money. In fact, I’m detecting little appetite amongst many councillors to do anything except a few canvassing photos.
“Gordon Brown will do Coatbridge in the coming days. Beyond that, nothing’s happening there. There’s real agitation amongst party members over how things are panning out in the campaign.”
All four MPs have featured in most polls as being likely to be voted out on May 7, although supporters still believe some can make it across the line. Clarke has represented Coatbridge since 1982, while Roy has been MP for Motherwell and Wishaw since 1997.
North Lanarkshire Council did not comment.
‘‘ Gordon Brown will do Coatbridge in the coming days. Beyond that, nothing’s happening there
THE Liberal Democrats have designed football shirts to highlight the 11 seats in Scotland it is seeking to hold in the General Election.
Scottish leader Willie Rennie said the General Election was “well into the second-half”.
And with no clear result predicted he called on voters to give his party a decisive voice in Westminster. Speaking to a team of footballers in Edinburgh, Mr Rennie said: “Who do you want to influence government?”