Introducing James Kelly
James Kelly grew up in Rutherglen and stays in Cambuslang with his wife Alexa and their two daughters.
He is a Scottish Labour Co-operative politician and Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Rutherglen constituency from 2007.
He is the current Scottish Labour Party Business Manager in the Scottish Parliament and the party’s election co-ordinator for the 2016 Scottish Elections.
He has mastered the art of appearing at just about every positive photo opportunity and sound bite interview, keeping his profile high in the public eye, whilst always ensuring he has available enough “non-stick teflon” to spread around enabling protection of his political persona in a cloak of invisibility.
He is a very poor public speaker possessing a delivery akin to Mr Sleepy.
14 June 2007 – Scottish Parliament Motion – Trident Debate
Whilst recognising that decisions on matters of defence are the responsibility of the UK Government.
This Parliament nevertheless calls upon the UK government to reject the proposed replacement of Trident.
71 MSPs voted for the motion.
Including all SNP, Liberal Democrat and Greens, 1 independent and 5 Labour (Bill Butler, Malcolm Chisholm, Marlyn Glen, Cathy Beattie and Elaine Smith).
16 Conservative voted against.
39 Labour MSPs, including James Kelly abstained.
3 MSPs did not register a vote.
http://www.scotland4peace.org/Binthebomb/lobby/MSPs/Motions/jun07detail.htm
1 December 2009 -Labour MSP James kelly criticised for not declaring he is the brother Tony Kelly the lawyer defending the release of Lockerbie bomber Mohmed Al Megrahi’
Labour’s James Kelly is a member of the the Holyrood committee investigating the Scottish Government’s handling of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi’s release from jail.
In that capacity he questioned Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill on a number of issues.
Kelly told the convener he had no declarations of interest at the time he joined the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee.
But this was untrue. His brother Tony Kelly is defence lawyer for the Lockerbie bomber!!!
Kelly insisted criticism of him was “frankly ludicrous” and that his family relationship was “well known”.
But SNP committee member Stewart Maxwell said:
“In the interests of transparency I am surprised that Mr Kelly did not see fit to declare his personal relationship to Mr Megrahi’s lawyer. In a case which has caused such controversy any cloud over the hearing is deeply unfortunate.” (The Herald)
Kelly’s love of media exposure ensures there is a steady stream of UTube videos exposing him as the Scottish labour Party’s Mr Bumble
23 August 2009 – Kelly’s rambling speech of little substance in the debate about job losses at Vion Foods.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZDOThJuQ8g
23 August 2009 – Kelly’s speech in the Scottish Parliament debate on a UK general election.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqa53MYIBQU
16 June 2012 – Kelly waffling about the Olympic flame passing through Rutherglen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOuXdTSM4bU
12 September 2013 -Kelly’s audacity seeking to defend Lamont’s FMQ attack on Scottish businessman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTZjXHH0k4I
13 September 2013 – The Johann Lamont Land Deal fiasco.
Kelly to the rescue of his leader without mention that it was Labour’s Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) who forked out £840,000 of taxpayers money for a lump of land worth £50,000. And who was head of (SPT) at the time? OH!!!! it was Johann Lamont’s Husband.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=870WBqWetc4
27 November 2013 – Kelly drops a clanger over Labour’s house building record.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMeyLKitmyk
10 June 2014 -Kelly hasn’t a clue about Airport Passenger Duty.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2raUi4JsMw
10 October 2014 – Johann Lamont tries to make political capital out of a rail contract, awarded to a Dutch firm. Alex Salmond explains, but it all goes over Johann’s wee head. Seeking to add hilarity to the proceedings and oblivious to all that had gone before Kelly rides to the rescue of his leader offering confused and contradictory arguments in his inimitable lugubrious style.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkiTQ9WCR4A
31 January 2015 – The Chilcot report debate. Kelly demonstrates abysmal levels of debating skills, and rhetoric.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qzG9nj4-0k
24 March 2015 – Asked repeatedly Kelly fails to answer the question. Would Labour allow the Tory Party to rule as a minority government?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW7thBDE1m0
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