Gizza Job
Tom Gordon writing in today's Herald highlights the case of a Labour MSP - Hanzala Malik - who insists on holding on to his second job and second pay - as a councillor with Glasgow City Council.
At a time when some Glaswegians can't get one job - never mind two - this does seem more than a bit ridiculous.
No doubt the SNP are keen to exploit the situation for their own advantage - but that's a poor reason for the Labour party to avoid a by-election.
Since a by-election would give the voters in Hillhead - a local councillor who can represent their interests properly - a role which Hanzala Malik can't fulfill if he's also full-time MSP at Holyrood.
Labour MSP under fire for double job
"A double jobbing Labour MSP has been accused of treating voters “with contempt” for not standing down as a councillor despite a by-election taking place in his ward.
Hanzala Malik, who became a Glasgow list MSP in May, is refusing to quit his £16,234-a-year post as a councillor for Hillhead.
The death of SNP councillor George Roberts means there will be a by-election in Hillhead, which has four councillors in November.
Anxious for a double win, the SNP are putting pressure on Mr Malik, who also earns £57,521 as an MSP, to stand down. Because of the proportional voting system, there would be no extra cost to taxpayers in filling two vacancies instead of one – the votes would simply be counted in a different way.
But Mr Malik, 54, who in 2007 urged an SNP MSP to give up his “inappropriate” second job as a Glasgow city councillor, says he has a “moral duty” to stay until his term ends in 2012.
SNP whip Councillor Graeme Hendry said: “If the rumours are true that Hanzala Malik is refusing to stand down then he is treating the people of Hillhead with contempt.”
At a time when some Glaswegians can't get one job - never mind two - this does seem more than a bit ridiculous.
No doubt the SNP are keen to exploit the situation for their own advantage - but that's a poor reason for the Labour party to avoid a by-election.
Since a by-election would give the voters in Hillhead - a local councillor who can represent their interests properly - a role which Hanzala Malik can't fulfill if he's also full-time MSP at Holyrood.
Labour MSP under fire for double job
"A double jobbing Labour MSP has been accused of treating voters “with contempt” for not standing down as a councillor despite a by-election taking place in his ward.
Hanzala Malik, who became a Glasgow list MSP in May, is refusing to quit his £16,234-a-year post as a councillor for Hillhead.
The death of SNP councillor George Roberts means there will be a by-election in Hillhead, which has four councillors in November.
Anxious for a double win, the SNP are putting pressure on Mr Malik, who also earns £57,521 as an MSP, to stand down. Because of the proportional voting system, there would be no extra cost to taxpayers in filling two vacancies instead of one – the votes would simply be counted in a different way.
But Mr Malik, 54, who in 2007 urged an SNP MSP to give up his “inappropriate” second job as a Glasgow city councillor, says he has a “moral duty” to stay until his term ends in 2012.
SNP whip Councillor Graeme Hendry said: “If the rumours are true that Hanzala Malik is refusing to stand down then he is treating the people of Hillhead with contempt.”
