SNP - Taking Us All For Fools
A timely reminder from the blog archive that senior SNP politicians see nothing wrong with a full-time SNP council leader (Cllr Ellen Forson) also being employed as Office Manager for Keith Brown, an SNP MSP and member of the Scottish Government.
But how can any politician in an important leadership position serve two different masters at the same time?
Introducing Some of Scotland's 'Low Paid' Councillors (2)
SNP - Scandal Over Councillors Pay (April 26, 2022)
As well as being SNP led these two councils have a cavalier approach to public money and councillors pay.
In Clackmannanshire the SNP leader of the local council doubles up as the Office Manager of the local SNP MSP, Keith Brown who is also Scotland's justice minister.
The jobs of council leaders across Scotland are classified as full-time jobs and paid accordingly.
So how does the SNP justice minister justify and explain this arrangement?
The answer is he doesn't, of course, nor does the Council Leader, Cllr Ellen Forson, and both seem to be taking a 'no comment' leaf out of Nicola Sturgeon's book in Glasgow - where a similar scam involving public money is in operation.
As regular readers know, Nicola Sturgeon employs her friend Cllr Mhairi Hunter as an Office Assistant despite the fact that Cllr Hunter has a full-time job with Glasgow City Council and another 1 day a week commitment with the NHS.
Now this stinks to high heaven if you ask me because the independence of local councillors has to be badly compromised if they depend on a friendly SNP MSP (and Scottish Minister) for a significant part of their income.
Covid, Councils and Competing Demands (April 02, 2022)
Keith Brown, the SNP MSP and Scotland's justice minister, is isolating after testing positive for Covid.
In his absence Keith's Office Manager, Cllr Ellen Forson, will no doubt step up to the plate while continuing in her day job as SNP Leader of Clackmannanshire Council - a post held previously by Keith, if I remember correctly.
Are they having a laugh?
It's A Fair Question, Keith! (February 28, 2022)
Clackmannanshire may be Scotland's smallest mainland council, but it's up there with Glasgow as an example of how to bring local government and local democracy into disrepute.
The role of council leader is designated as a full-time job, but incredibly the SNP leader of Clackmannanshire Council, Cllr Ellen Forson, also acts as the Office Manager to the local SNP MSP - Keith Brown who also happens to be the Scottish Government's justice minister.
So we now have three senior Scottish Ministers (Nicola Sturgeon, Humza Yousaf and Keith Brown) all using public money to employ local SNP councillors in their local constituency offices.
Despite the fact that their employees were also carrying out full-time roles and being paid full-time salaries for their respective councils.
Now if something walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, I tend to call it a duck and in this case all the evidence says that SNP MSPs have been misusing public money, as part of a well organised racket, to employ friends and political allies.
The SNP has also conveniently abolished the independent watchdog SLARC (Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee) which worked with Scotland's councils and provided Scottish Ministers with independent advice on councillors' pay and expenses.
Here's a letter I've sent to the Leader of Clackmannanshire Council which refers to the Nolan principles on standards in public life.
Dear Cllr Forson
to the post of Office Manager?