RESIGNATION CALL ON MURPHY OVER LABOUR COUP CRISIS

RESIGNATION CALL ON MURPHY OVER LABOUR COUP CRISIS

MURPHY FAILING TO WORK FOR PEOPLE'S JOBS - ONLY INTERESTED IN HIS JOB

Scotland Secretary Jim Murphy faces calls to resign over his implication in the Labour leadership crisis after it emerged he was named as one of the six Cabinet ministers set to back the ditching of Gordon Brown.

SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson MP said it was unacceptable, at a time when Scotland faced challenges over jobs, the economy and the effects of extreme weather, that the Minister was embroiled in internal Labour machinations. Mr Robertson pointed to the Scotland Office website – which has not been updated since 23 December – which suggested the Minister was not focussed on the concerns and events which were of real importance to people in Scotland such as creating and protecting jobs and only interested in saving his own.

Mr Robertson said:

“At a time when Scotland faces challenges over jobs and the economy, Labour spending cuts and the effects of extreme weather, it is totally unacceptable that Jim Murphy is more concerned with internal Labour party machinations and his own job.

“Just as people are looking for politicians to work together to get through difficult times, it seems Jim Murphy cannot even work together with his own party leader. His implication in Labour’s latest leadership crisis makes his position untenable. Jim Murphy has been happy to spend more than £7m of taxpayers money on self-promotion, but has been too distracted to report any work he has done on the Scotland Office website since 23rd December or on his blog since the 3rd of December.

“How can Labour Ministers and MPs expect the people of Scotland to back Gordon Brown when they have no confidence in their own leader.

“Scotland needs a strong voice which only the SNP offers by putting jobs, the economy and families first while Labour fight themselves and settle scores. In contrast the people of Scotland trust the SNP to deliver for them – that’s why the SNP won more votes last year than any other political party in Scotland.

“Labour bickering and backstabbing is a self-serving distraction - what people really want is a General Election so everyone can have their say on Labour’s record. That is the only ballot that matters.”