Scottish Labour
Not so long ago the Labour Party introduced new leadership arrangements in Scotland - which were designed to send the message that the Scottish Party was in control of its own destiny - and that the levers of power were no longer in the hands of the UK party in London.
But at the first sign of real trouble - in the shape of the Falkirk vote rigging scandal - the Labour leadership in Scotland does seem to have been elbowed out of the way - while Ed Miliband & Co make all the key decisions on how to handle the fall out from Falkirk.
The Sunday Herald, which of course brought events in Falkirk to national attention, ran an interesting article at the weekend - suggesting that the Scottish Executive Committee of the Scottish Labour Party is up in arms at being kept in the dark and pushed to one side.
I have to say that I'm not surprised, but there really is no excuse for trying to keep the details of the Unite report a 'secret' - from the very people who are supposed to be in charge of Scottish Labour affairs.
Scottish Labour in dark over Falkirk investigation report
A rift has opened up between Ed Miliband and Scottish Labour after members of the party's governing body north of the Border demanded a copy of the secret report into the Falkirk selection fiasco.
By Paul Hutcheon
Individuals on Labour's Scottish Executive Committee are said to have expressed anger at a recent meeting about how a report into the Unite trades union's controversial recruitment strategy had been kept from the SEC.
An SNP spokesman claimed the revelation showed that London was "firmly in control" of Labour.
Labour last month put the Falkirk West constituency party into "special measures" following an investigation into the mass sign-up of members by Unite ahead of the contest to select a Westminster candidate.
As revealed by the Sunday Herald, Unite recruited up to 100 new members in an attempt to help its favoured candidate, Karie Murphy, an ally of union general secretary Len McCluskey. She works in the office of Labour MP Tom Watson.
The union also helped pay for a survey on whether an all-women shortlist should be used for the selection, while figures linked to Unite took on roles on the local party executive committee.
However, the tactics caused alarm and triggered the Labour inquiry.
Discussing the findings, Miliband said the investigation revealed "we had members being signed up without their knowledge, bad practice, malpractice".
Murphy and local party chairman Stephen Deans were suspended by the party. Labour referred the allegations to the police. Unite has denied any wrongdoing and threatened legal action.
It has now emerged that Scottish Labour is in the dark about the secret report, described by one source as "pretty damning".
Although Johann Lamont is the leader of Scottish Labour, candidate selections for Westminster seats are a matter for the UK Labour national executive, which is why the UK party has taken the lead on the Falkirk investigation.
However, given that the allegations relate to a Scottish seat, senior figures in the party believe the SEC should be a joint partner in the inquiry.
At an SEC meeting on July 13, it is understood members of the ruling body demanded that the SEC be given a copy. One source said the view was "unanimous".
Anger was also expressed at the meeting about the decision to refer the allegations to the police.
In recent days, McCluskey has expressed regret about aspects of the Falkirk debacle.
"If I could turn the clock back, I would stop the idea that Unite pay an individual's membership fee to join an organisation.
"It is something I actually disagree with when I really examine it," he told The Guardian.
"I have to say that, had the Labour Party not stopped the scheme we were about to announce we would not use the scheme again, because I recognise that the perception is in Falkirk that we have moved to buy votes in the constituency. I now recognise that is the perception. It is false, but perceptions matter."
An SNP spokesperson said: "Clearly, London is firmly in control of Labour in Scotland, and it is evident there is a real lack of faith in Labour's Scottish Executive if party bosses in Westminster won't share the report.
"Johann Lamont claimed she was leader of all parts of the Labour Party in Scotland, but this shows her leadership is in name only and Westminster is still calling the shots."
A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: "The report compiled for the National Executive Committee has been handed to the police for investigation. It is important that the police investigation is allowed to run its course."
An SNP spokesman claimed the revelation showed that London was "firmly in control" of Labour.
Labour last month put the Falkirk West constituency party into "special measures" following an investigation into the mass sign-up of members by Unite ahead of the contest to select a Westminster candidate.
As revealed by the Sunday Herald, Unite recruited up to 100 new members in an attempt to help its favoured candidate, Karie Murphy, an ally of union general secretary Len McCluskey. She works in the office of Labour MP Tom Watson.
The union also helped pay for a survey on whether an all-women shortlist should be used for the selection, while figures linked to Unite took on roles on the local party executive committee.
However, the tactics caused alarm and triggered the Labour inquiry.
Discussing the findings, Miliband said the investigation revealed "we had members being signed up without their knowledge, bad practice, malpractice".
Murphy and local party chairman Stephen Deans were suspended by the party. Labour referred the allegations to the police. Unite has denied any wrongdoing and threatened legal action.
It has now emerged that Scottish Labour is in the dark about the secret report, described by one source as "pretty damning".
Although Johann Lamont is the leader of Scottish Labour, candidate selections for Westminster seats are a matter for the UK Labour national executive, which is why the UK party has taken the lead on the Falkirk investigation.
However, given that the allegations relate to a Scottish seat, senior figures in the party believe the SEC should be a joint partner in the inquiry.
At an SEC meeting on July 13, it is understood members of the ruling body demanded that the SEC be given a copy. One source said the view was "unanimous".
Anger was also expressed at the meeting about the decision to refer the allegations to the police.
In recent days, McCluskey has expressed regret about aspects of the Falkirk debacle.
"If I could turn the clock back, I would stop the idea that Unite pay an individual's membership fee to join an organisation.
"It is something I actually disagree with when I really examine it," he told The Guardian.
"I have to say that, had the Labour Party not stopped the scheme we were about to announce we would not use the scheme again, because I recognise that the perception is in Falkirk that we have moved to buy votes in the constituency. I now recognise that is the perception. It is false, but perceptions matter."
An SNP spokesperson said: "Clearly, London is firmly in control of Labour in Scotland, and it is evident there is a real lack of faith in Labour's Scottish Executive if party bosses in Westminster won't share the report.
"Johann Lamont claimed she was leader of all parts of the Labour Party in Scotland, but this shows her leadership is in name only and Westminster is still calling the shots."
A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: "The report compiled for the National Executive Committee has been handed to the police for investigation. It is important that the police investigation is allowed to run its course."
