Glasgow Councillors - Double Dipping

I've been having a good look at the Register of Interests for elected councillors in Glasgow which makes very interesting reading.

Lots of SNP councillors are employed by Glasgow MSPs and MPs, as in the example below where a senior councillor in a full-time council role (Jennifer Layden) is also employed by the Justice Minister, Humza Yousaf.

If I get the time, I'll share the details on the blog later this week.

  

SNP and 'Double Dipping' (15/04/21)

Derek Mackay resigned in disgrace as SNP finance minister in Feb 2020 and is probably the reason councillors pay in Scotland seems like such a 'free for all' these days.

Because Deek disbanded the independent SLARC committee which acted as a public watchdog to ensure fair pay and fair play.

SLARC stands for Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee.

SLARC would have advised on issues like the Civic Heads expenses scheme which led to Glasgow's civic head (Eva Bolander) being compared to Imelda Marcos in 2019. 

No doubt SLARC would also have had something to say about councillors in well remunerated, full-time jobs taking up other employment with friendly MSPs and MPs.

  

SNP, 'Double Dipping' and Public Money (14/04/21) 

Humza Yousaf has featured on the blog recently over his antics on social media, which reminds me I must chase up the Scottish Government as I've not had a response to my Stage 2 complaint.

Anyway, the link between the justice secretary and Glasgow councillor Jennifer Layden is that she works as a part-time caseworker in Humza's constituency office, having done so previously for the SNP's Margaret Ferrier. 

Here's what Jennifer Layden's entry in the Council's register of Interest says:

"City Convenor"
"Part time caseworker for Margaret Ferrier MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, January until October 2020"
Part-time caseworker at the office of Humza Yousaf MSP, December 2020

https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/councillorsandcommittees/interests.asp?id=2400&name=Jennifer+Layden

What's odd about this is that Jennifer Layden is a 'senior councillor' with Glasgow City Council which means she receives a 'full-time' salary worth around £35,000, if I remember correctly.

So how can Cllr Layden be doing a full-time job on a public salary, yet still find the time to do another part-time job with the Justice Secretary?

I think we should be told because this looks very much like 'double dipping' at the taxpayers' expense. 

 

Who's Who in the SNP? (12/04/21)

Here's another colourful SNP 'power couple' - Anne McLaughlin, the MP for Glasgow North East and her partner Graham Campbell who is a Glasgow councillor, and former member of Tommy Sheridan's Solidarity party.

Anne has been an MP twice, no less, having won Glasgow North East in 2015, before losing the seat to Labour in 2017 and  winning it back again in 2019.

Graham has featured on the blog a few times (on which more to follow) and he's been adopted as the No 1 SNP candidate for regional list in the Lothians - even though he lives and works in Glasgow.

If any readers can fill in details of their employment background, drop me a note at: markirvine@compuserve.com

 

Who's Who in the SNP? (10/04/21)

 

I said to myself earlier today that lots of SNP politicians seem to be married/partnered up with other SNP politicians which all sounds rather cosy.

So I've started drawing up a list of Who's Who (or Who's With Who) in the SNP starting, where else, with Peter and Nicola.

Peter Murrell (SNP Chief Executive for 20 years) is married to Nicola Sturgeon (First Minister, MSP for Glasgow Southside and SNP Party Leader).

Lots more names and details to follow, of course, which I'll share on the blog to build up a detailed picture of all the SNP 'wheels within wheels' in the days ahead.