McConnell’s missed vote infuriates Labour MSPs

FORMER FIRST minister Jack McConnell has angered his Labour colleagues after missing a key Holyrood vote to attend a leaders' summit in New York.

Scottish Labour was deprived of victory in last week's Holyrood housing debate after McConnell flew to America on tycoon Tom Hunter's private jet.

His critics within the party believe it is time McConnell chose between being an MSP or the businessman's "special envoy". However, a spokesman for the rich philanthropist Hunter described the Labour MSP's critics as a "bunch of petty politicians".
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The row follows a parliamentary debate last Wednesday on Glasgow's housing problems, in which a Labour amendment ended tied at 60 votes on either side.

The presiding officer, Alex Fergusson, used his casting vote to defeat the amendment, a loss Labour insiders say would have been avoided if McConnell had been in the chamber.

The former first minister was in New York attending the Clinton Global Initiative, an annual summit where global leaders discuss issues such as poverty, education and climate change.

He had travelled to the US the previous day from Prestwick on Scottish tycoon Hunter's jet.

One senior Labour MSP said: "It didn't look good that Jack wasn't around to do the job he is being paid to do. He decided to go to America while the rest of us were debating housing. It was noticed."

A senior party source added: "Jack has to make up his mind. Does he want to be an MSP, or does he want to be special envoy for Tom Hunter?"

McConnell was ousted as first minister after May's Holyrood election but remains an MSP. He has also taken up an unpaid job with the Clinton Hunter Development Initiative (CHDI), where he will focus on helping Malawi.

The Sunday Herald understands McConnell took part in the New York sessions on education and the alleviation of poverty.

Another Labour insider said: "If he wants to do Malawi full-time, that's fine, but he should resign his seat. The votes in parliament are always going to be close, so the last thing we need is one of our MSPs going abroad."

The criticism is significant as it comes seven days after Labour MSPs briefed against McConnell's successor as leader, Wendy Alexander.

The Paisley North MSP was blasted in the Sunday Herald last week for allegedly relying on a "wee clique" of supporters, but the attention has now shifted to McConnell.

Although he has insisted that he will serve a four-year term as MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, there is speculation he may force a by-election on the same day as a general election.

A spokesman for Tom Hunter said of McConnell's critics: "If a bunch of petty politicians have a problem with Jack McConnell trying to help Malawi, I think it raises questions about whether they are the right people to represent their constituencies. It is frankly appalling and typical of Scotland."

A spokesman for McConnell said: "He had permission to be there. Children are dying in Malawi every day and Jack McConnell wants to do something about it. Any criticism reflects more on the politicians and the media than it does about him."