MURPHY EMBROILED IN GANGSTER SCANDAL
LABOUR QUESTIONED OVER ORGANISED CRIME LINKS
Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy and the Labour party face serious questions
today after reports a convicted gangster - on first name terms with a
Labour member of Strathclyde Police board - attended a fundraiser for his
election campaign.
This is not the first time Scottish Labour has been exposed over links to
convicted criminals, drug dealers and gangsters, with the Red Rose dinner
in 2002 and most recently revelations that Labour's former leader in
Glasgow was interviewed by the SCDEA over links to organised crime.
Following reports in today's News of the World and Sunday Herald that
Lewis Rodden attended a fundraiser for the Scottish Secretary, which also
featured former Defence Secretary John Reid, the SNP put the following
seven questions to the Labour party:
1) Who invited Mr Rodden and what role do they hold in the Labour party?
2) How much did Mr Rodden bid at the auction and has any money been received?
3) Did Mr Rodden speak with Jim Murphy, John Reid or any elected or senior
members of the party?
4) Why did Jim Murphy, John Reid or the Labour party not remove Mr Rodden
- instead of allowing members and guests to "fawn" over him?
5) Why did the Labour organiser Betty Cunningham's recollection of events
change once contacted by the press?
6) Why do Labour think it is acceptable for one of their elected
councillors and Strathclyde Police board member on first name terms with a
convicted gangster?
7) Following previous occasions in which convicted drug dealers,
gangsters and security chiefs have been shown to have close access to
Labour politicians what action have Labour taken to ensure they have no
undue influence or access to the party?
SNP MP for Glasgow East John Mason said:
"Jim Murphy and Labour face very serious questions over their associations
with organised crime.
"A light is shining on Scottish Labour and the view is not pretty.
"This is not the first time criminals and gangsters have socialised with
the Labour party at fundraisers and it seems as if they have done nothing
to cut these ties.
"It says a lot about Labour that someone like this can show up at one of
their events and be on first name terms with the organisers and guests.
"Jim Murphy must be clear if this man successfully bid for any items at
the auction, if they received any money from him and how many other times
he has socialised with elected Labour members.
"Labour have clearly learnt nothing from their previous involvement with
some of Scotland's most unsavoury criminals and are quite happy to have
such people at their events.
"While the SNP is trying to clean up Glasgow and shine a light on Scottish
Labour it seems Labour are busy hanging out with criminals and gangsters."
1. Gangster at Labour Dinner
"http://www.newsoftheworld.co.
2.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/
3. Report of Red Rose Dinner -
http://news.scotsman.com/
4. Purcell warned about blackmail by the mob
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.
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