Published: Wednesday, 2nd July, 2008 12:00
Why Wendy had to go
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The resignation of Wendy Alexander as Labour Leader in the Scottish Parliament after a disastrous few months at the helm comes as no surprise to anyone in Scottish politics.
Her leadership has been continually under threat from within the Labour Party. Information on her acceptance of illegal donations - even the existence of donations could only have come been leaked from within her own coterie of trusted supporters. This was coupled with an off the record briefing against her by Labour MSPs and MPs on an almost continuous basis. Ironically, the errors made came from campaign fundraising for an uncontested leadership election.
The Standards Committee decision that proved the final straw for Wendy Alexander was based on a report by the Independent Standards Commissioner which only Labour members refused to accept.
Wendy Alexander’s leadership failed to effectively challenge the SNP, a challenge that at time has proved farcical, with Labour abstaining on the SNP’s three year budget and voting for the local government financial settlement. Bizarre announcements, such as calling for the US Primary system to be tried in Scotland, the U turns on an Independence referendum, few discernible policies and a feeble performance against the First Minister each week, means that Alex Salmond will soon face his third Leader of the Opposition in a year.
As Labour face another leadership trauma, her likely successors would do well to watch each other as well as their political opponents. At least he/she won’t be bossed about by Gordon Brown for much longer, judging by the near paralysis in his Government’s ability to take a decision let alone the right one, on any issue.
Decay from within is characteristic of the now precipitous decline of New Labour, north and south of the border, as shown by their pitiful fifth place behind even the BNP at the Henley by-election, where they secured only 3% of the vote. Wendy Alexander’s resignation is merely a symptom of this wider malaise.
Kenneth Gibson,
SNP MSP for Cunninghame North
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Watching the Watchmen