I see Kezia Dugdale has deemed the hiring of David Kerr as a Special Adviser as a "very bad call on Salmond's part" given how low trust in politicans is these days.
I wonder what the Labour blogger's thoughts are on her dear leader Iain Gray being hired as a SPAD soon after losing out in the Edinburgh Pentland's seat in 2003? Pot calling the kettle black anyone?
Per Wikipedia:
In the 2003 election Iain Gray was defeated by the then Scottish Conservative leader David McLetchie, whom he had beaten in 1999. After leaving Holyrood, he worked as a special advisor to the Scottish Office under Alistair Darling and initially announced he would not be seeking re-election.
There's no doubting there is space for an ex-Newsnight editor in the SNP's spin team just as Darling deemed there would be space in the Scottish Office team for now Labour leader Gray.
Yes the David Kerr appointment is clear compensation for losing out in Glasgow NE, yes political parties look after their own and yes there are probably too many special advisers out there in the political bubble but stooping to hypocrisy in criticising a party for hiring a SPAD after they lost out in election when the exact same thing happened to the guy you are championing as the next First Minister is pretty poor form in my book.
Speaking of which, I can understand their schadenfreude, but Labour shouldn't take too much joy over the precarious position of Tory spin doctor Andy Coulson. The McBride affair wasn't that long ago that it's been forgotten...
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Here's what the Scotland office said on Iain gray's appointment back in 2003:
"A Scotland Office spokes-woman said: "The secretary of state has appointed Iain Gray as his special adviser on Scottish matters. The secretary of state emphasised the importance of strengthening the partnership between the UK parliament and the Scottish Executive. Iain Gray's experience will contribute to this partnership approach."
Iain was hired to advise on Policy and inter governmental relations. What is David Kerr's speciality? Getting things on Rep Scot?
Also, here's what the SNP had to say at the time:
"Linda Fabiani MSP, SNP deputy business manager, argued that Mr Gray's appointment as Mr Darling's "new personal adviser" raised "serious questions about the 'jobs for the boys' attitude of the Labour party"."
What goes around comes around
I agree that what goes around comes around but if, as you freely admit, you are the other side of the same coin then I don't think you can reasonably cite the public's low opinion of politicians as a reason not to hire SPADs if you're equally culpable in causing the problem.
Jeff
All this and the Deagio story highlight just how desperate Labour are in Scotland.
No policies, no ideas and definitely no talent, all they can do is smear and spin. If you campaign round the doorsteps you will quickly find out what the majority of the public think of them.
This is part of their problem they have very few people canvasing for them, so they continue to hide their head in the sand. In a normal political party things like the SNP share of the vote in the Euro elections, and Grays 7% approval rating would register, and they would take remedial action. But it suits them better to think "protest vote, honeymoon period etc"
P.S. I do not think that David Kerrs SPAD post was a consolation prize. I do not think he would have given up a well paid job at the BBC on the chance he would win Glasgow. I think this was arranged in advance. Just think of the BBC and Scotsman headline "special adviser forced on local Glasgow party" there is no democracy in the SNP said Mr7%.
Let me see if I get this right.
When Labour do this, it is fine and above board, and the SNP are playing petty politics if they raise any eyebrows.
When the SNP do it, Labour kick up a fuss.
Now, it is either a-ok and Labour should therefore have no problem and allow the public to make up their minds without trying to steer them.
Labour sadly cannot see that they look equally petty, truculent and stupid by raising questions over something they happily indulged in whilst in power.
It all smacks a bit of their hypocritical approach to the open prison situation.
It's still a consolation prize even if the job was pre-arranged. Plan A was to be the candidate in the eminently winnable North East contest. No big deal but let's at least call a spade a spade.
David hasn't been appointed to SPADship, the story's guff. Angus Macleod wrote a story citing "sources" and "speculation" and seeking to noise up a 'Salmond rebuffed' story. It's just not true.
I believe Mr Kerr will be taking a wee holiday now and deciding what to do next. Becoming a SPAD wouldn't suit him, I speculate (note that this is solely my speculation, I have no sources), because SPADs cannot get involved in party politics and can't stand for election. If David wants to stand for Holyrood in two years' time, being a SPAD would just get in his way.
Besides Gray is more of a SPOD than a SPAD. Also Kerr is nearly too old to be taking up SPAD-ING...
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