SNP councillor quits politics over ‘sexist smear campaign’
A HIGH-PROFILE SNP councillor facing an investigation by a watchdog has announced she is quitting frontline politics.
Rosa Zambonini cited family responsibilities and sustained personal attacks for her decision not to seek re-election in May.
In a lengthy statement, the North Lanarkshire councillor referenced a “smear campaign” by Labour members on the authority and instances of misogyny. She also said she had been accused of exploiting her 13-year-old child’s coming out as transgender for her own career.
Ms Zambonini is facing a Standards Commission hearing next month into claims she failed to disclose that she worked for a senior MSP in her declaration of interests.
However, Ms Zambonini made only a passing reference to the issue, insisting she could not discuss it as it would still be going ahead. But she added: “Busy mum forgets to do something eh? Big news!” Posting on her Facebook page it was “with the heaviest of hearts” that she would not be seeking re-election, she said she would be putting her family ahead of frontline politics.
She said: “When I tried to take on major issues I was told there was a smear campaign put out by the Labour Party councillors based mostly around the fact I’m a woman. Stories which I would not share because they were clever and fly with it, and they would cause too much upset to my family.”
One SNP source said: “I doubt this has much to do with the Standards hearing. There’s deep-rooted issues there and some of Rosa’s hassles came from within our own team. She’s probably better off out of it.”
An SNP spokeswoman said: “Rosa’s comments on attitudes she encountered demonstrate the importance of increasing female representation in councils.”
A Labour group source said: “Some people thought Rosa a bit ‘ditzy’ but all accepted she was hard-working. I don’t know where the smear allegations come from.”