French connections

THE general election in Scotland has become dominated by a bizarre row over what First Minister Nicola Sturgeon allegedly said to a French diplomat.

According to  a leaked memo obtained by the Daily Telegraph, Sturgeon told France’s UK Ambassador Sylvie Bermann that “she'd rather see David Cameron remain as PM”.

If true, this would have been hugely embarrassing: the First Minister has said publicly she wants Cameron out of Downing Street and Ed Miliband in.

The story unraveled after Pierre-Alain Coffinier, France's consul general in Edinburgh, as well as Bermann's spokesperson, both denied the Cameron claim.

The original newspaper report wasn’t helped by the fact that the memo was written by an official in the Scotland Office who wasn’t even at the Sturgeon meeting.

However, the memo also noted the First Minister saying she "didn't see Ed Miliband as PM material".

So, are the French diplomats also denying this part of this document?

When the Sunday Herald spoke to Coffinier yesterday, he repeated his denial about the Cameron claim, but was far more uncomfortable being quizzed on the Miliband section.

Here is the exchange with Monsieur Coffinier:

Shown the section of the leaked memo regarding Sturgeon’s views on David Cameron and Ed Miliband, he said: “Well, yes, that is not accurate.”

Asked if any of it was accurate, he said: “I’m not going to disclose that. My comment is very clear. There has been no preference expressed regarding the outcome of the elections.”

Pressed on whether Sturgeon said Ed Miliband was not Prime Ministerial material, he said: “No, I’m not going to answer. No comment… I don’t want to answer that. I don’t want to answer that.”

Frisking a flawed policy

NICOLA Sturgeon's remarks in Parliament last week have confirmed that stop and search - the signature policy of Police Scotland chief constable Stephen House - is in crisis.

The controversial practice of suspicionless searches - which have no legal basis - is for the chop, while assistant chief Wayne Mawson has been recalled to Holyrood over his claim that non-statutory searches for under 12s were "indefensible".

MSPs were angered to learn that this "indefensible" practice has continued.

Scotland's frisk rate is also far higher than in London and nine times the proportionate rate compared to the New York Police Department.

I've charted the collapse of this policy in the Sunday Herald since February last year.

Here is a beginners' guide to a policing initiative that has spiralled out of control.

    

1.      23^rd February, 2014. Police have been making up stop searches, claim officers.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/some-stop-and-search-incidents-made-up.23512104

2.     9^th March, 2014. Leaked briefing: cops told to boost successful stop and searches.

      http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/street-cops-under-pressure-over-stop-and-search.23643235

 3.       23^rd March, 2014. Police chief admits to fake stop and search figures.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/police-chief-admits-to-fake-stop-and-search-figures.23761106

4.       30^th March, 204. Police prevent scrutiny of stop and search data.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/police-prevent-scrutiny-of-disputed-stop-and-search-data.23825075

5.       14^th April, 2014. Cops challenge single force over ‘bogus’ stop and searches.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/police-tackle-their-chief-over-fake-stop-search-allegations.23935322

6.       April 20^th, 2014. Single force admits there is no definition of a successful stop and search.

7.       3^rd May, 2014. Single force overhauls recording system for stop searches.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/police-overhaul-discredited-stop-and-search-policy.24129942

8.       1^st June, 2014. Kids as young as six were stop searched by Stephen House’s old force.

       http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/children-as-young-as-six-subjected-to-stop-and-search.24374468

9.       5th July, 2014. Some cops make up nearly 90% of their stop searches, review hears.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/police-our-bosses-  bully-us-to-boost-stop-and-search-figures.24682653

10.   21^st June, 2014. Weapons discoveries from stop search policy exaggerated by 40%.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/crime-courts/revealed-how-police-stop-and-search-policy-misleads-the-public.24556486

11.   20^th July, 2014. Scotland’s stop and search rate is 9 times higher than in NYPD

 http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/police-scotland-frisk-nine-times-as-many-people-as-the-nypd.24811529

12. 28^th June, 2014. Cops will be “firmly dealt with” if they don’t increase stop and searches.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/crime-courts/police-chiefs-warn-officers-step-up-stop-and-search.24620750

13.   August 16^th, 2014. Stop searches fall by 40% after ‘bogus’ frisk scandal exposed

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/massive-fall-in-number-of-controversial-stop-and-search-operations-after-admission-fi.25062579

14.   30^th August, 2014. Police Scotland spent £10m on ‘unlawful’ stop searches

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/crime-courts/police-scotland-spent-10m-on-unlawful-stop-and-search.25192088

15.   27^th September, 2014. Watchdog blocked critics from giving evidence to frisk review.

        http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/scottish-politics/police-watchdog-dropped-critics-of-stop-and-search-from-key-report.25442467

 

16.   2^nd November, 2014. Stop and search has failure rate of 84%.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/pressure-mounts-on-police-over-failing-stop-and-search-ops.25752533

17.   26^th November, 2014. Frisk levels fall by 50% after scrutiny of search policy.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/crime-courts/stop-and-search-halved-after-policy-put-under-microscope.25965485
 

18.   30^th November, 2014. Drug detections from stop searches include ‘legal highs’.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/police-scotland-drug-detection-rates-under-fire-after-disclosure-seizures-include-leg.25996462

19.   1^st February, 2015. Scotland’s human rights tsar: end non-statutory stop and search.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/scotlands-human-rights-tsar-demands-scrap-stop-and-search-without-suspicion.117420658

20.   8^th February, 2015. Bid to end non-statutory frisks to be made within days.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/bid-to-outlaw-consensual-stop-and-search-to-be-made-within-days.117945040

21. 22^nd February 2015: Revealed, Police Scotland and Scottish Government tried to hamper research into stop-and-search 

22. 22^nd March, 2015: Stop and search: now Police Scotland is collecting your phone numbers

23. 17^th May 2015: Revealed: how Police Scotland tried to undermine criticism of stop and search

24. 21^st June, 2015: Nearly one in every five Glaswegians subjected to stop and search

25. 26^th July, 2015. World's End case used to defend stop and search policy


26. 9^th August, 2015: Watchdog watered down stop and search report after House intervention

Because he's worth it, part 2

IN his last week as SNP leader, Alex Salmond was treated by his party to a stay at the five-star Gleneagles hotel.

In today’s Sunday Herald, I reveal the latest example of the SNP’s touching generosity to the now backbench MSP:  a chauffeur-driven private hire.

I am told “security” is an issue.

One party source told me Mr Salmond is finding it “hard” giving up the trappings of power.

Here is a fuller version of the article.

EXCLUSIVE

By Paul Hutcheon

THE SNP has been criticised after agreeing to fund a chauffeur-driven car for its former leader Alex Salmond.

Party bosses approved the perk, but Scottish Tory deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said SNP membership subscriptions were being used to pay for the ex-First Minister’s “imperial” lifestyle.

All First Ministers, from Donald Dewar to Nicola Sturgeon, have been entitled to a car for government business.

However, it is unprecedented for a political party to continue to pick up the tab for a motor vehicle after a leader quits.

Holyrood has provided a chauffeur-driven car for group leaders when in post, but political parties have never continued the practice.

Scottish Labour did not put on a car for Jack McConnell, Iain Gray or Johann Lamont after they resigned, while the same was true for the Tories’ Annabel Goldie and the Liberal Democrats’ Tavish Scott.

At Westminster, parties do not pay for a car for former leaders, but the UK Government provides police protection for ex-Ministers who held security-sensitive posts.

An SNP source said the car was intended to take the former First Minister from “a to b” and would save the public purse money through a reduced expenses bill.

A private hire firm is being used.

It was reported last month that the former SNP leader had been using public transport for his journeys

“I love public transport but it takes me some time to get around at the moment," the backbench MSP said.

However, it is understood his journeys are split between trains and the party-funded car.

The SNP also paid for a car to ferry Salmond about during his two spells as leader.

In 2008, the party paid a firm £2,888 to ferry Salmond around during the Glasgow East by election.

The same driver received £9,484 for a chauffeur service during the 2011 Holyrood election campaign.

Carlaw said: "Considering Alex Salmond seems determined on a new career as the SNP's backseat driver, it's perhaps no surprise the SNP is splashing out on a chauffeur driven limousine to ferry him around.

"I wonder how thrilled new SNP members will be to learn that their subscriptions are being squandered on keeping Alex Salmond in the lifestyle he has clearly come to regard as his imperial right."

Scottish Labour MP Anne McGuire said: "Alex Salmond stood down months ago but he's still acting like he is First Minister. Whether it's being chauffeured about, or announcing SNP policy instead of Nicola Sturgeon, the former First Minister isn't just a back seat driver - he's clearly itching to get back behind the wheel of the SNP."

An SNP spokesperson said: "Security assessments for the former First Minister are a matter for Police Scotland, not the SNP.

"The former First Minister has no access to the government car service, in contrast to former Prime Ministers and a number of other UK government ministers.

"Therefore, his transportation, including to party events, has no impact at all on the public purse."

Political transparency

SCOTTISH Labour announced its leadership result on Saturday, but curiously declined to provide turnout figures for the three sections of its notorious electoral college: parliamentarians; affiliates; and party members.

However, affiliated trade unions are starting to release their turnouts: Community's figure was 12%; 21% of ASLEF members voted; and the Unite number was a paltry 10.2%.

So, half an hour ago, I emailed Scottish Labour's spokesman:

"Can you tell me the % turnout for the members' section?"

His reply: "No."

Remember this when Labour demands transparency from others.

Democratic deficit

 --UPDATE: GMB turnout was 8.5%--

AT a glance, the Scottish Labour party provided an element of transparency in its leadership result on Saturday.

Officials released figures showing the vote %  each candidate received in the rather absurd three-part electoral college used for the contest.

The winner, Jim Murphy, cleaned up in the parliamentarian and members’ sections, while challenger Neil Findlay won the affiliated trade unions and socialist societies.

However, Scottish Labour did not provide turnout figures for either the members’ section, or for the unions.

Nor were figures provided for the total number of people who voted in each part of the college.

Such a basic disclosure, I am told by party sources, could prove embarrassing.

However, some unions have embraced transparency and coughed up their turnouts. Here they are:

      1. ASLEF: 21%

2. Community: 12%

          3.  Unite: 10.2%

            

These numbers are abject  – around 90% Unite’s political levy payers did not vote– but at least these affiliates have provided basic information.

At the very least, these tiny turnouts should spell the end for the electoral college in all Labour leadership contests.

But shouldn't Scottish Labour now provide all turnout figures?

Murphy's Holyrood options

As Jim Murphy announces his reshuffle and plans to rewrite his party’s constitution, the significant matter of how and when he will get to Holyrood remains unresolved.

On Sunday, he said he was not attracted to a dual mandate, which all but ruled him out of standing for Westminster in 2015.

He repeated that he will be a Holyrood candidate in 2016, but left the door open to entering the Scottish Parliament before then. His exact plans will be announced in the “New Year”.

Speaking to his allies, several options have emerged.

 1. The most obvious option is to get selected in a Labour first-past the post-seat for the 2016 election. 

A trio of MSPs – John Pentland, Ken Macintosh and Hugh Henry – had been tipped to make way, but all three have stated their intention to stand again. KM in particular does not see himself as part of Murphy’s chess game.

However, u-turns are an accepted part of political life and nobody would be hugely surprised if one of the three made way. At least one other FPTP MSP is likely to retire ahead of the 2016 poll, so Murphy will have options. 

The bottom line is, if Murphy wants to get selected in an existing seat, his party will deliver.

This option would mean him taking a year out of elected politics: you only have to be a parliamentarian to get elected Scottish Labour leader; there is no rule that says you must continue to be one after winning.

     2.   A related option is to stand in a constituency and on a regional List at the same time in 2016. However, the ‘protected places’ given to existing List MSPs is an obstacle.

If an incumbent List MSP passes a trigger ballot, nobody else can get a higher ranking.

Johann Lamont tried to scrap this rule, which is said to protect deadwood MSPs, but she bottled reform. I am told Murphy will scrap protected places and allow all members – perhaps even MPs – to go for top billing on the Lists.

      Of course, a rule change would also mean Murphy coming top of whichever List ballot interested him.

  

    3.   A riskier option is persuading an MSP to stand down soon and timing a by-election to coincide with the next general election.

 However, the opinion polls are problematic. Labour is not a shoo-in in any part of Scotland just now, and Murphy could not be certain of avoiding a humiliation.

The SNP and the wider Yes movement would pile bodies into the seat and Murphy’s Holyrood bid would turn into a soap opera.

       Far better, an ally of his said to me, for Murphy to improve his party's reputation over the next 12 months and stand in 2016 when the gap between Labour and the SNP is narrower.

      Oh, and as has already been stated, an MSP standing down before 2016 would take a financial hit. MSPs love their parties, but not as much as their wallets.

    4.  The most bonkers suggestion I’ve heard floated is for Murphy to try to become a List MSP before 2016. 

 The idea explored is a) get an existing List MSP to stand down b) persuade the other candidates who were on the same List in 2016, but who were were unsuccessful, to waive their right to take a place at Holyrood c)somehow ensure Murphy gets the vacant slot.

I’m no legal eagle, but I’m sure this barmy pub chat option has no basis in law. A party can’t retrospectively change its candidate list from a previous election.

However, the fact it has even been suggested shows how keen Murphy is to get to Holyrood.

So, the safest bet is 2. Option 3 is highly risky. Number 4 is just nuts.