AIRMILES MCCONNELL IN LABOUR CRONYISM ROW

AIRMILES MCCONNELL IN LABOUR CRONYISM ROW

Commenting on the latest cronyism row to hit Labour, after it emerged
that former First Minister Jack McConnell had spent £70,000 of
taxpayers’ money travelling the world in an envoy role invented by
Gordon Brown, SNP International Development spokesperson Pete Wishart
MP said the cost was troubling at a time when the UK Government have
been closing British embassies overseas.

Mr Wishart said:

“Everyone knows the envoy role was a consolation prize because Labour
did not want a Scottish Parliament by-election, but the cost of
keeping Jack McConnell in airport executive lounges clearly smarts at
a time when the UK Government have been closing British embassies
overseas.

“This appointment was the gift of Gordon Brown but is being paid for
by ordinary taxpayers.

“People, not least his constituents in Motherwell and Wishaw, will
want to know whether Jack McConnell’s globetrotting is really
essential and what precisely is being achieved as a result of these
expensive trips.”