Report on alleged Russian interference in UK politics

The Tory Government has nobbled Westminster’s powerful Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) by loading it with right-wing apparatchiks.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53349212

 

 

 

 

Russian Influence on Boris Johnson’s government and the Tory Party

Boris Johnson’s Tory Party delayed publication of a report by the UK secret services into claims that the Russians adversely influenced the  EU referendum and the 2017 General Election.

The Tory’s stated that the primary reason for deferring publication until after the 2019 General Election was to ensure a level political playing field.

But the report was with Boris Johnson on 17 October 2019 and the process of approval of publication was usually around 10 days.

The Chairman of the investigating committee, Tory, Dominic Grieve accused Johnson of “sitting on the report” because it contained damaging allegations about the conduct of Tory politicians.

And the claims were that a friend of Boris Johnson, Alexander Temerko, one-time Russian defense ministry official had recently donated in excess of £1.5m to the Tory Party and that another eight Russian businessmen had also given significant sums of money to the Party.

And the Russians just kept turning up. A female Russian Tory Party donor, Lubov Chernukhin, former wife of  Putin supporter, Vladimir Putin ally, Vladimir Chernukhin, donated around £0.5M  and gifted another £160K to play tennis with Boris.

Grant Shapps, Tory Transport Minister defended the decision to delay publication offering that the government of the day was not allowed to publish anything politically controversial during an election “Purdah” period. But “purdah” was not in force in October for a General Election not due until December.

 

 

 

Cameron asked Putin and other world leaders to speak out against Scottish independence

In 2014 Russia retained the role of the presidency of the influential G8 group of industrial nations placing President Putin in a position of increased influence over world affairs.

The Westminster government’s anti-independence civil service team also bragged that they had employed underhand tactics and orchestrated the “Project Fear Campaign” globally.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13140055.camerons-plea-to-putin-help-me-stop-salmond/

 

 

 

Holyrood targeted by British spooks at GCHQ

SPOOKS have changed top-secret rules so they are free to spy on MSPs. Explosive documents show that the UK’s electronic eavesdropping agency last month dumped guidelines that had constrained spies from tapping MSPs’ phones or hacking their emails.

The revelations about GCHQ will spark fury at Holyrood and reignite conspiracy theories about the role of the security services in fighting the growth of pro-independence feeling.

They are also likely to bolster fears the intelligence community was monitoring politicians’ and activists’ communications during the referendum campaign.

The fact that the change to existing guidelines was made in the aftermath of the September 18 vote might be viewed as an action taken to cover previous activities.

Internal policy documents obtained by the Record show GCHQ – responsible for mass surveillance in Britain – had extended the decades-old Wilson doctrine to MSPs until March of this year.

The convention is named after former prime minister Harold Wilson, who pledged in 1966 that MPs’ and peers’ phones would not be tapped.

In December 1997, then PM Tony Blair said it extended to electronic communication, including emails.

However, the policy was never officially extended to cover the devolved parliaments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland once they were set up in 1999.

And while GCHQ said it had voluntarily treated MSPs in the same way as MPs until March this year, it can be revealed that they have now changed the policy so MSPs are no longer included.

 

 

 

 

 

GCHQ taps fiber-optic cables for secret access to world’s communications

Britain secretly gained access to the network of cables which carry the world’s phone calls and internet traffic and processes vast streams of sensitive personal information which it shares with its American partner, the National Security Agency.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/jun/21/gchq-cables-secret-world-communications-nsa

 

 

 

The Five Eyes Alliance

The United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand participate together in an electronic eavesdropping cooperative called “The Five Eyes Alliance”

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/06/is-the-five-eyes-alliance-conspiring-to-spy-on-you/277190/

 

 

 

 

British spies snoop on YouTube and Facebook

The British government taps into the cables carrying the world’s web traffic at will and spies on what people are doing on some of the world’s most popular social media sites, including YouTube, all without the knowledge or consent of the companies.

http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/27/22469304-snowden-docs-reveal-british-spies-snooped-on-youtube-and-facebook?lit

 

 

 

UK spies attacked anonymous hackers

The blunt instrument used by the British secret service to target hackers also interrupted the web communications of political dissidents who did not engage in illegal hacking.

http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/edward-snowden-interview/exclusive-snowden-docs-show-uk-spies-attacked-anonymous-hackers-n21361

 

 

 

British spies use sex and dirty tricks tactics

British spies developed “dirty tricks” for use against nations, hackers, terror groups, suspected criminals, and arms dealers including releasing computer viruses, spying on journalists and diplomats, jamming phones and computers, and using sex to lure targets into “honey traps.”

http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/edward-snowden-interview/exclusive-snowden-docs-show-british-spies-used-sex-dirty-tricks-n23091

 

 

 

 

Brexit removes European human rights court rulings making it illegal for the government and or its agencies to engage in the mass surveillance of the public

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled mass surveillance to be illegal.

The Court ruled that article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) (the right to privacy)  included “sufficiently precise, effective and comprehensive” measures limiting surveillance to only people it suspected of crimes.

But the Tory government National Security Act (2011), contravenes (ECHR) since a minister of the government is able to approve a police request to search people’s houses, mail, phones, and laptops if they are seeking to protect national security a process that does not require judicial review or approval. And the law does not provide the circumstances under which the surveillance can be ordered (unlike other parts of the same law).

A minister can also order the surveillance for 90 days and extend it by another 90 days and there is no obligation to delete any of the information gathered during that time once the surveillance is ended. All highly questionable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gordon BrownNiccolò Machiavelli

 

Gordon Brown, the master leaker, when he was Prime Minister, had the Tory Damien Green arrested on allegations of leaking information . Yet in July 1985, at the time he was interviewed by the BBC’s Frank Bough, he just couldn’t avoid gloating and smirking about the leaks he had orchestrated, received and passed on through his network of minions who were always eager to do his murky deeds. Many people will have cause to have hatred in their hearts for him. He has departed the scene as a politician, but he leaves a foul stench that will linger for years to come. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIrweIqqsOc

Brown  CameronFarage

14 September 2014: Former UK Prime Minister Brown Prefers Tory/UKIP Government to Scottish Independence

Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown expressed his preference for a return to office of a right-wing, austerity driven, David Cameron led Conservative/Ukip Government at the next British General Election in 2015 rather than support Scottish independence.

Answering the question, “are there are any circumstances, such as a widely speculated a David Cameron Conservative/Ukip coalition Government being formed, that would convince you to back a Yes vote, he said, “it cannot just be about hating one policy or disliking a particular Government. It cannot just be about what you feel about the issue of the moment. You have got to take the long view. You have got to look ahead. I think people will conclude from experience that we are an interdependent world and that sharing, co-operation, solidarity, neighborliness is the way forward.

With recent opinion polling showing around a third of Labour party voters planning to vote Yes in the independence referendum he was asked whether the Labour Party’s credibility had been damaged by campaigning so closely alongside the Conservatives, who have only one elected MP in the whole of Scotland. He had no answer.   http://sputniknews.com/politics/20140914/192928906.html

19 September 2014: Conservatives Praise Role of Former Labour Prime Minister Brown in Independence Campaign

Former Labor Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been praised for his contribution to the Scottish independence campaign by Conservative Minister for State for Scotland David Mundell. He said,”Gordon Brown played a very significant role as have a large number of other people. I listened to Gordon’s speech and it was very, very impressive.  http://sputniknews.com/world/20140919/193075895.html

18 September 2014: Experts say the “No” vote has resulted in political stability in the UK. “The union is like a damaged marriage” stated an anonymous Conservative MP

Despite Civil Service orchestrated baseless threats from companies like The Royal Bank of Scotland, to move operations to England in the event of a “Yes” vote, many Scots dismissed such threats as scaremongering. Furthermore, the Canadian example also suggests that the narrow “No” vote will prolong constitutional uncertainty, causing problems for businesses and jobs in Scotland.

Although Westminster promised to extend “home rule powers” to Edinburgh, the narrow majority of “No” votes will not end the discussion over Scottish independence and pro-independence voters will most likely seek a fresh mandate for a new referendum in a few years’ time, the so-called ‘never-endum’ scenario.

A YouGov poll revealed that almost two-thirds of people in Scotland are unsure what powers are to be devolved so the “no” voters have no idea of what “extensive new powers” Westminster promised. http://sputniknews.com/analysis/20140918/193047983.html

 

Andrew Brown   Gordon Brown (Brother)

 

Andrew Brown: Studied journalism at Edinburgh University

1987: Became an assistant producer for Newsnight before joining Channel Four News two years later. He became a programme editor in 1994, and worked on scripts for the presenter Jon Snow.

 

 

1996: Took over as the editor of ITN’s political programme Powerhouse.

 

2003: left to become the director of media strategy at Weber Shandwick, an international PR company. Colleagues described him as a “very calming, very thoughtful, very mature person with a gentle sense of humour”. David Brain, the joint chief executive of Weber Shandwick, said he was hired, “not for his links to his brother but because he is a top-quality broadcaster. I am sure that, if there were any conflicts of interest, we would find a way to resolve them.”

 

 

2004: Became the head of media relations at EDF, the French utility company. He is now the director of corporate communications. When he took the job, Andrew admitted that, “the energy industry is not something I knew much about before”. Nevertheless, he has been at the forefront of EDF’s expansion in Britain after it bought London Electricity, Sweb and Seeboard. He lives with his wife, Clare, 49, in Victoria, central London, less than half a mile from Gordon’s flat.

 

 

2007: French energy giant EDF has been at the forefront of the campaign to change perceptions of nuclear power. The company, which operates 58 nuclear reactors in France and is already a big player in the UK electricity market, has said it is ready to invest in a new generation of plants in the UK, provided it gets the go-ahead from government. It has successfully lobbied ministers to introduce a fast-track planning process to make it easier to build new plants without lengthy public enquiries. Chancellor Gordon Brown’s brother, Andrew, is EDF’s head of media relations in the UK. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5149676.stm http://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/jul/11/greenpolitics.nuclearindustry1

 

EDF Atomic Energy   Clare Rewcastle

 

29. Clare Rewcastle: Is a British investigative journalist. She is married to Andrew Brown

a. Born in Sarawak to British parents (before the territory joined Malaysia) and attended the local primary school. Her mother, Karen, was a midwife who helped look after indigenous babies at remote clinics.

She moved to the United Kingdom when she was eight, attended private boarding school and subsequently obtained her masters degree in international relations from the London School of Economics.

She became a journalist, joining the BBC World Service in 1983.

She is the founder of, “Sarawak Report” and, “Radio Free Sarawak” which are openly critical of the Barisan National-led state government of Sarawak.

 

Sarawak  Radio Free Sarawak

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clare_Rewcastle_Brown

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/malaysia/10159557/Activist-sister-in-law-of-Gordon-Brown-deported-from-Malaysia.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/fight-for-the-borneo-rainforest-gordon-brown-celebrates-the-role-of-journalist-clare-rewcastle-2237427.html

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2011/s3191901.htm

 

Gordon & Mrs Brown

Laura Kuenssberg’s Great, Great grandfather was a world-renowned cloth manufacturer who built his business (photo) in Brandenburg, Germany. He employed over 500.

 

 

 

Laura Kuenssberg’s Great Grandfather Dr. Eberhard Kuenssberg – Legal Historian – The Third Reich

Eberhard von Kuenssberg was educated evangelically and attended schools in Graz and studied law in Vienna from 1899 to 1904.

His dissertation “The Forest in German Mountain Law” (1904) received the first prize of the Samitsch Foundation.

After leaving the legal state exams in Austria, he took an Austrian scholarship to Munich for two semesters, where he became acquainted with the founder of legal archaeology, Karl von Amira, who impressed him and became his model.

In 1905, Richard Schröder (who had initiated the 1896 project of a dictionary of the older German legal language) employed Kuenssberg as a research assistant for the dictionary.

In 1910 he qualified for the study, authorship, and publication of eight of the old German legal language for legal history.

In recognition of his decision, he was awarded the Prussian Red Eagle Order. He also received a “Free German” nationality.

Kuenssberg was not fit for military service (due to a heart defect) and during WW1, he engaged in voluntary nursing.

He founded the first German Einarmschule in Ettlingen in 1915, which he directed until December 1918, and wrote a multi-handed manual for one-armed people.

After the prescribed time as a private lecturer (and after the death of Schroeder), he was appointed titular professor in Heidelberg in 1916.

He took over the leadership of the German legal dictionary in 1917 and laid down the keywords, sources and the scope of the articles, and wrote many of his own.

In addition to his legal work, he gave lectures and exercises for lawyers and philologists on the subject of legal history.

In 1924 he was admitted to the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences.

In 1928 he became a professor of the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin, the bearer of the legal dictionary.

He retained his special position in the Heidelberg Faculty (From 1928 -1941) and his publication of the legal dictionary (even though his wife Katharina (1883-1978), born Samson, was of Jewish descent).

After the war, the Heidelberg Faculty pointed out to the Reich Ministry of Education that Kuenssberg had actively supported National Socialism (NAZI) ideals and was the leading authority in the development of the German legal dictionary having compiled and released four of eight volumes.

Kuenssberg unexpectedly died of complications arising from an operation (ulcers) in 1941.

The Kuenssbergs had ensured that their five children had left Germany before his death.

One son, Ekkehard Kuenssberg (1913-2000), continued his medical studies in Edinburgh and became a well-known physician in Scotland.

Dr Katharina Kuenssberg (nee Samson) was a distinguished biologist. The daughter of wealthy cloth manufacturer Gustav Samson, and Anna Goldschmidt, (daughter of Jewish couple Hermann and Rosalie Goldschmidt.) was to be deported at the beginning of 1942, (but this was prevented by the intervention of the Dean of the Heidelberg Law Faculty Eugen Ulmer).

Her granddaughter said later:

“My grandfather did not die from cancer in 1941, rather he was murdered on the operating theatre table by the surgeon at the orders of the Gestapo. My uncle, Dr. Ekke von Kuenssberg, interviewed the surgeon after the war ended in 1945 as to why a simple ulcer surgery ended in death. The surgeon apologized to my uncle. He had no choice as the Gestapo in the operating theatre had given him orders that my grandfather was not to come out alive.

My grandparents sent all their children out of Germany as they were well aware of the negative changes going on in Germany under Hilter. Who wouldn’t? my mother had to leave school in 1935 because of anti-Semitism.

My grandfather was disgusted that Austria and Germany had been taken over by a working-class man, a unionist, who spent two years in a psychiatric hospital and then, had taken over Austria and Germany. Previously, nobles had a major part in all governance of Austria and Germany.”

Katherina Kuenssberg lived in Castle Finstergrün from 1941 until the end of WW2.

 

 

 

 

 

Laura Kuenssberg’s Grandfather Ekkehard von Kuenssberg (1913-2001) – Former General Practitioner

Ekkehard was Educated at Schule Schloss, Salem,(1) where he was head boy, led on to Innsbruck University where he studied science.

A family decision was made that Ekkehard should leave Innsbruck and go to the United Kingdom to continue his education.

The account of his journey to Edinburgh and how he was accepted as a student by Edinburgh University medical school is a wonderful story in itself which is documented in the university graduates’ association journal.

He graduated in 1939. In addition to his academic studies) he had time for play, and gained a blue for hockey, founded the university ski club, and was a co-founder of the yacht club.

His alien status in 1939 restricted the range of medical jobs he was allowed to do, and in May 1940 he was interned for five months.

On release from internment, he returned to Edinburgh and became a locum to Dr. C E Munro, who was on war service.

Thrown into general practice at the deep end his workload was enormous.

Poverty, overcrowded housing, and men away at the war all created problems additional to the difficulties of dealing with illness with a limited pharmacopeia.

In February 1944 Ekkehard achieved his desire to join the forces and was commissioned as a subaltern in the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Three years later he was demobbed in the rank of lieutenant colonel, having been an assistant director of hygiene in East Africa.

More Here:

http://www.bmj.com/content/suppl/2002/03/07/324.7337.616.g.DC1

 

 

 Ekkehard Von Kuenssberg (1913-2001) was Head boy at Schule Schloss, Salem

 

 

 

Ekkehard von Kuenssberg – Prince Philip – Salem School – Hitler Youth and Universal Fascism

During World War I, Prince Max von Baden had been chancellor, while the Oxford-trained Hahn first served as head of the Berlin Foreign Ministry’s intelligence desk, then as a special adviser to Prince Max in the Versailles Treaty negotiations.

Von Baden and Hahn set up a school in a wing of Schloss Salem, employing a combination of monasticism and the Nazis’  “strength-through-joy” system.

At first, an ardent supporter of the Nazis, Hahn, who was part Jewish, embraced the more centrist elements of the Nazi Party.

Ownership of the school transferred to Prince Berthold, Margrave of Baden, (Queen Elizabeth’s uncle).

Through the influence of his sister Theodora, (Prince Berthold’s wife) a young Prince Philip was enrolled at the school

At the time of Prince Philip’s arrival, it was controlled and directed by the Hitler Youth and the Nazi Party, and the curriculum was centered on Nazi “race science”.

 

 

Gordonstoun School

Hahn’s powerful NAZI connections permitted him to escape the concentration camps but he left the school  Prince Philip’s arrival and established a new school in Scotland, called Gordonstoun.

It would play a major role in rearing all the male children of Queen Elizabeth II and Philip.

Hahn became an important adviser to the Foreign Office in London, urging policies of appeasement based upon appeals to the “centrist” Nazis.

But according to confidential records released long after the war Dr Kurt Hahn,the German-born founder of Gordonstoun (attended by generations of the Royal Family was a suspected Nazi spy.)

MI5 agents in Edinburgh and the Secretary of State for Scotland were convinced in 1940 that Dr Kurt Hahn should be interned.

But MI5 in London and the Home Office regarded him as free from suspicion.

Rumors circulated there was a photograph of Hahn with Hitler and there were claims that during the First World War Hahn ‘connived in measures calculated to break British morale’.

He was also accused of spreading propaganda, blaming the 1919 Treaty of Versailles for the Second World War and advocating the return of colonies to Germany.

The revelations were contained in Scottish Office files released under an Open Government initiative passed by Parliament.

Gordonstoun, near Elgin, which catered for 150 boys, also came under local suspicion.

It was strategically sited between two RAF aerodromes, ran navigation courses for pupils and had a look-out post over the Moray Firth.

Five masters and 11 boys were interned by the order of the Home Secretary but Hahn was not.

A school full of refugee German teachers and pupils inevitably fell under suspicion.

In the summer of 1940, the school was evacuated and Hahn set up similar establishments in Wales and the Highlands.

The Duke of Edinburgh and Princes Charles, Andrew and Edward were educated at Gordonstoun, which maintained Hahn’s emphasis on self-reliance and practical skills.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Kuenssberg family

Laura is the daughter of Scottish businessman, Professor Nick Kuenssberg, OBE and his wife Sally Kuenssberg, CBE.

Her brother David and sister Joanna are employed with the British Diplomatic Service.

Joanna was appointed High Commissioner to Mozambique as of April 2014.

http://www.scotsman.com/business/management/business-interview-nick-kuenssberg-1-2819213

 

Career profile of Professor Nick Kuenssberg OBE

 

 

Coats-Paton

Nick was employed in an executive position with Coats-Paton, from 1965 and spent a deal of time expanding the company in South America.

In Peru during the late 1960s, he became gained notoriety as a shrewd operator.

At the time the government enacted laws providing for the financial protection and reimbursement of employees in the country.

But Nick found a legal way around the reforms so that all of the employees of Coats-Paton would be exempt from the benefits of the legislation.

This was a time of sweatshops in the textile industries and Nick helped deny rights to his employees.

A study of the timeline of Coats-Patons factories opening globally reveals a hard-line capitalist approach.

When, in developing countries, they were faced with challenges to their mode of operation the company simply “upped sticks” and transferred their power looms to more receptive countries taking full advantage of weaker legal systems and lower wages.

Following a number of mergers, the company is now known as Coats PLC.

It operates sites (together with other multinationals) in many countries worldwide, including India, Peru, Columbia, Ecuador, Brazil, the Philippines, Venezuela, Pakistan, and Turkey.

In the 1970’s World Trading Authorities applied pressure intent on bringing to an end the shoddy business practices of Coats-Paton and other multinationals which were revealed to be tantamount to slavery.

At around this time, Nick transferred his skills to the European side of the business returning to Scotland in 1978.

In a March 2013 interview, he appeared to vindicate the denial of legal rights to his Peruvian workforce, calling the enacted governmental reforms a disaster.

(http://www.scotsman.com/business/management/business-interview-nick-kuenssberg-1-2819213)

In 2007 Coats was fined €110 million by the European Commission for participation in cartels with Prym, YKK and other companies to fix and manipulate the prices of zips and other fasteners, and of the machinery to make them.

One of the cartels ran for twenty-one years.

An appeal in 2012 to the General Court of the European Union was dismissed, and the fine upheld.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coats_Group#Controversy)

More information here:  (http://politicalreformedfutures.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/laura-kuenssberg-heratige-of-sweat.html)

 

 

 

 

 

28 Mar 1995: Finlay and Kuenssberg Fall on Their Swords as company struggles

A boardroom coup at Dawson International, the Pringle sweaters business, has led to the resignations of its chairman and managing director.

They are carrying the can for a string of bad news, culminating yesterday in the announcement of 500 job losses in Scotland and the closure of two factories.

The market, which has been looking for scapegoats for Dawson’s poor performance, pushed the shares 4.5p higher to 104p.

Over the past three years, they have underperformed the market by almost two-thirds.

In a move thought to have been precipitated by disgruntled institutional investors, including PDFM, Royal Insurance, M&G and Schroders, Sir Ronald Miller, chairman, has been replaced by non-executive Derek Finlay, and Nick Kuenssberg, managing director for less than a year, is succeeded by Peter Forrest, a divisional head.

Investors are annoyed that they stumped up £45m in a one-for-four rights issue last May to restore Dawson’s badly mauled balance sheet. The shares are currently well below the 120p issue price.

At the time, Sir Ronald told investors that have taken the decision to implement essential rationalization in the US, the group was in a strong position to achieve growth again.

Sir Ronald, who joined Dawson in 1968, had been chairman for the past 12 years. He and Kuenssberg are expected to receive pay-offs relative to their respective £200,000 and £135,000 salaries. The company is looking for a new chief executive.

The cost of adjusting is expected to be £10m covering site closures and job losses. Those are divided between the Pringle operation, where a factory at Arbroath is to be closed and at Blackwood Brothers, Dawson’s yarn-spinning company, which is suffering from reduced demand for high-quality carpets.

Pringle is reeling under lower sales and higher raw material prices and will make a loss this year. Its retail operations are also to be run down.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/heads-roll-as-dawson-sheds-500-1613256.html

 

 

 

 

The Kuenssberg’s & the Labour Party

Nick enjoys a friendship with the (Labour Party) Alexander family (from Paisley).

He contributed financially, together with others to the labor party in Scotland’s leadership campaign of Wendy Alexander.

Problems surfaced when it was revealed that she had failed to declare the contributions to the Electoral Commission and she was forced to withdraw her nomination. She resigned from Scottish politics.

 

 

 

 

Laura Kuenssberg was born in Italy, while her father was employed there with Coats Viyella. 

She studied history at the University of Edinburgh, followed by a journalism course at Georgetown University in Washington D.C., where she worked on an NBC News political programme.

She has worked in France, and in the United States, satisfying her serious election geek tendencies by covering two White House races.

On returning to Britain, she worked for local radio and then cable television in Glasgow, before joining BBC North East and Cumbria in March 2000.

She won a regional Royal Television Society award for her work as Home Affairs correspondent and went on to produce segments for the Social Affairs editor Niall Dickson.

She then worked for Channel 4 News for a time before returning to the BBC.

She is married and lives in London.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/nov/12/bbc-newsnight-itv-laura-kuenssberg .

 

 

 

 

2010: Kuenssberg rejoined the BBC in 2004 as Chief Political Correspondent for BBC News

In her seven years in Westminster, she reported for a wide range of BBC programmes including the 10 O’clock News, Today and News-night, ultimately working as the chief political correspondent for the BBC News Channel during the 2010 General Election.

She enjoyed an extremely good relationship with the Downing Street police officers, and benefited from this in May 2010, when her presence was so ubiquitous in the period between the general election and the formation of a coalition government under David Cameron.

Surviving on a diet of egg sandwiches and adrenaline, for hour after hour and day after day the 33-year-old, blonde-bobbed Scot described, debated and analyzed the most enthralling election campaign for decades.

http://www.webcitation.org/5xWzukw3E

 

 

 

 

 

On 12 November 2013 Kuenessberg awarded hefty £200,000-a-year contract by the BBC

She subsequently returned to the BBC as chief correspondent and a presenter of Newsnight (average audience slipping badly in recent years reduced to just 600,000 viewers).

The deal, which angered many BBC staff, came after the Corporation had been widely criticized for the high salaries paid to executives and on-screen stars.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2547970/BBC-hands-new-presenter-Laura-Kuenssberg-200-000-year-deal-600-000-viewers-thats-33p-each.html

 

 

 

 

Video in which Marine Le Pen put Laura Kuenssberg from BBC News-night back in her box.

The typically agenda-driven bias was well in evidence here when Kuenssberg tried to get Le Pen to say that UKIP and her party were fellow travellers.

Ms. Le Pen was adept retaining control of the interview not allowing herself to be pigeonholed.

There was much to admire at the way she admonished Kuenssberg.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83NsHR5-0-Y

 

 

  Ms. Le Pen

 

3 May 2016:  Twitter erupts as BBC struggle to keep Tory Election Fraud under..

The term ‘BBC bias’ has been bandied about a lot recently, and many are questioning the political neutrality of commentators such as Laura Kuenssburg.

It’s easy to see how many have come to these conclusions, given that Kuenssburg’s last 6 consecutive tweets – spanning from April 28^th – have all been about one person: Jeremy Corbyn – as opposed to anything that could potentially damage the Conservatives.

When you combine Kuenssburg’s unashamedly negative Jeremy Corbyn obsession, with her Daily Politics sidekick Andrew Neil – Chairman of the zealously Conservative media outlet, The Spectator –  it’s not hard to see why many are now questioning why the BBC’s political department is keeping a potentially huge Conservative scandal subdued.

http://evolvepolitics.com/twitter-erupts-bbc-struggle-keep-tory-election-fraud-wraps-may-elections/

 

 

 

 

 

7 January 2016: BBC producer deletes blog where he admits political manipulation before PM questions

A BBC producer has admitted in a BBC blog – now deleted – that Andrew Neil, Laura Kuenssberg and himself manipulated the news to negatively impact Jeremy Corbyn during Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday.

In the blog, the producer – Andrew Alexander – openly admits the BBC team were not just reporting the day’s news but trying to influence it: “this was a story where we could make an impact” .

Alexander also admitted the BBC team were fully aware that their actions would influence events: “we knew his resignation just before PMQs would be a dramatic moment with big political impact”.

And expressed pleasure in seeing the PM use their actions to attack the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn: Full story here:

https://tompride.wordpress.com/2016/01/07/bbc-producer-deletes-blog-where-he-admits-political-manipulation-before-pm-questions/

 

 

 

 

8 January 2016: BBC Admit intentionally damaging Corbyn leadership with contrived live resignation

Damning figures show that sixty percent of the pieces involving Corbyn during his first seven days of his leadership were negative.

What is more surprising is that these figures do not even include one of the worst culprits:

The BBC.

Shortly after Jeremy Corbyn’s election as leader of the Labour Party in September, the BBC were accused of an ‘anti Corbyn bias’ and challenged with a 61,000 strong petition demanding that they stop using the prefix ‘left-wing’ when reporting on events related to his leadership.

But before he even won a stunning 59.5% of the vote, ensuring the largest democratic mandate of any Labour leader in modern history, Jeremy Corbyn was subject to what a source from his leadership campaign went as far as describing a ‘complete hatchet job’.

The Panorama episode in question was alleged to have attracted a large number of complaints, but the BBC refused to release the figures.

Former BBC political editor, Nick Robinson, even wrote to his colleagues over concerns about the BBC’s bias towards Corbyn, and Channel 4’s Michael Crick issued a stunning rebuke to broadcasters referring to non-left MPs as ‘moderates’.

Despite these protestations, as we begin a New Year, it is evident that the BBC has not taken any New Year’s Resolutions to become a little bit more balanced in the face of a broader, more inclusive political spectrum.

Full story here:

http://evolvepolitics.com/bbc-admit-intentionally-damaging-corbyn-leadership-contrived-live-resignation/

http://www.heraldscotland.com/resources/files/41748 (The full story)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tavish Scott, Liberal Democrat MSP for Shetland. Divorcee Married Kirsten Campbell BBC Political Journalist.

Deputy Minister for Finance, Public Services and Parliamentary Business between May 2003 and June 2005. Appointed Minister for Transport in the Scottish Cabinet on the 29th June 2005, holding the post until the 2007 election.

 

 

 

 

 

November 2006: Scandal. The Edinburgh Accommodation Allowance Scheme.

One of the biggest winners from the scheme appears to be Tavish Scott, the Liberal Democrat MSP for Shetland, who is responsible for Scotland’s transport network. He is charging the public nearly £1000 a month in mortgage interest payments to help him buy a £380,000 house in Edinburgh. He has doubled the amount he bills the taxpayer for the property perk despite making a £36,000 profit last year on another flat bought with help from the public purse. And he previously claimed rent on a flat which at the time was owned by his sister.

The revelations are further blows for the widely discredited Edinburgh Accommodation Allowance. The parliamentary scheme allows MSPs to either claim mortgage interest payments on a property in the capital, or to rent, or to stay in a hotel. The allowance is also deeply unpopular because it has allowed several MSPs to make substantial profits on properties bought with the help of taxpayers’ money. One of the biggest winners from the scheme appears to be Scott, the Liberal Democrat MSP for Shetland, who is responsible for Scotland’s transport network.

Land registry documents show that most MSPs have used the allowance to buy small flats in central Edinburgh costing between £80,000 and £100,000. But Scott has taken advantage of the generous system by purchasing a house last year in Morningside worth £380,000, on a mortgage of £265,000. Parliamentary records show he is now billing the public £979 a month in interest payments on his mortgage – the highest charge of any MSP. Scott is also entitled to claim the £1920 council tax on his new band-G house. An identical property for sale in the same street, inviting offers over £350,000, has three bedrooms, a “lovely private garden”, and a conservatory and patio.

The purchase of the house is only part of the Lib/Dem minister’s use of the accommodation allowance. The MSP bought his first property through the scheme in 2002, a £112,000 flat at Lower London Road sold to him by his sister. Figures show he claimed around £500 a month in mortgage payments for the property. He sold the flat last year for £148,000, pocketing £36,000 in profit. This allowed him to buy the much bigger property in Morningside. This purchase coincided with Scott’s changed personal circumstances. By 2005, he was separated from his wife and dating BBC journalist Kirsten Campbell.

The electoral roll shows a “Kirsten Campbell” is registered at the new property. The minister is now charging the public almost double the amount he charged for his previous flat, up from £500 to £979 a month. Scott has also left himself open to criticism regarding his rental arrangements prior to buying his first taxpayer-funded flat in 2002. That property was bought by Scott’s sister in 2000 – just months after her brother was elected to Holyrood – and sold to him two years later. However, council records show a Tavish H Scott was on the electoral roll for this flat in 2001.

The LibDem MSP was claiming rent for staying in his sister’s property. Scott, a business studies graduate, earns around £50,000 for representing Shetland, while ministers are entitled to a further £39,000. He has claimed more than £50,,000 in Edinburgh Accommodation Allowance payments since 1999. http://forum.caithness.org/archive/index.php/t-16987.html

 

Typical Morningside house

 

 

 

 

 

Kirsten Campbell: BBC Scotland political correspondent. Girlfriend then wife of Tavish Scott Lib/Dem MSP and Minister.

May 2004: BBC Scotland was forced to defend its political coverage last night after a senior reporter revealed she was in a relationship with a Liberal Democrat minister, but was to carry on in her current role. Kirsten Campbell, BBC Scotland’s political correspondent, and Tavish Scott, deputy finance minister, yesterday announced they had been romantically involved for around six weeks.The couple are understood to have made the declaration amid mounting speculation.

Scott, MSP for Shetland, is separated but not divorced from his wife of 14 years, with whom he has three children. He said, “Given media interest in my separation last year, I have decided to avoid any speculation by confirming that I am in a relationship with Kirsten Campbell and have been since last month.” He refused to give further details or say if an engagement was being planned. Ms Campbell, added, “It’s early days. I consider myself lucky to have found such a wonderful man.” She said she told her employers of the relationship around two weeks ago to ensure there was, “no question of any impact on my integrity or credibility, or the BBC’s integrity or credibility”. She added, “If this relationship becomes serious then I will have to move out of political coverage.”

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/reporter-backed-by-bbc-over-holyrood-romance-journalist-and-senior-msp-confirm-their-relationship-1.85807

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 10 2010: Kirsten Campbell, BBC Scotland political correspondent and wife of Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott was lead reporter on last week’s BBC presentation “Scotland at a standstill” story which covered the totally unexpected extreme weather that hit Scotland overnight.

She reported that – Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson had apologised and resigned over his handling of the chaos brought on by the unexpected extreme winter weather.

The resignation of Stewart Stevenson, Minister of Transport had been self-inflicted but was ultimately unnecessary. He was not forced to resign because of the bad weather. He was not even forced to resign because of the councils’ handling of the bad weather. He was forced out of his job because of his initial reaction to last week’s snowfalls. With hundreds of people trapped in their cars overnight, Mr Stevenson went on the BBC the following morning and tried to brazen it out. The Scottish Government’s response had been first class, he said and then he went on to blame any failures on others for not being more accurate with the forecasts. It was entirely the wrong approach and despite his later apology, the mood among the opposition, some sections of the media and a small number of furious motorists had, by this time, swung against him. They demanded a culprit and, as a result, Mr Stevenson was forced from his job.

Quality newspapers however, printed pieces on the poor forecasts. Several respected commentators aired the view that there was little Stevenson could have done. Newspaper letter columns called for personal responsibility. “I’m all for bashing the Nats,” said one writer in The Scotsman, “but surely this comes down to common sense. Everybody could see for themselves what the conditions were like.” Significantly, the BBC continued with it’s rabid approach, the corporation was determined to set the agenda, and it succeeded when the tabloids later followed its lead and pilloried Stevenson. There was no exploration by BBC Scotland of the many different agencies involved in keeping Scotland running (or not), such as the quango Transport Scotland, councils, the police, and private road maintenance companies.

BBC Scotland point blank refused to engage with any arguments other than political cock-up. BBC Scotland repeatedly played a single interview with one frustrated driver demanding – after some prompting by the BBC interviewer – “the transport minister should take the blame”. In doing so the BBC angled the story in the way a newspaper editor might run a campaign, going for the jugular.

But newspapers are not regulated by a charter committing them to editorial values such as “no significant strand of thought is knowingly unrepresented”. Thursday night’s Newsnight went so far as to use the M8 blockages as a metaphor for the failure of devolution itself. By Sunday the thaw had come and Stevenson had gone. But BBC Scotland continued to re-run the Monday night Newsnight, on the Politics Show Scottish opt-out. They twice replayed the clip of Stevenson’s now infamous interview. The very familiar angry motorist also got another outing, along with the selective use of weather forecasts. It was tabloid television and about as useful to the public as a jack-knifed lorry.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11976328

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Martin; Elected in 1987 as the youngest ever leader of the British Labour delegation of MEPs.  Married Lorraine Davidson in 2002.

In his new role as Spokesperson for the Socialist and Democrat Group on international trade, during a parliamentary debate in July David outlined his priorities and concerns for the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). David stressed to the European Commission that the Socialists welcomed the negotiations which have the potential to reach an agreement which will set high global standards and give small and medium-sized Scottish businesses the ease of access to the US market which multinationals currently enjoy.

However he warned that the protection of public services including the NHS, maintaining EU food safety standards and preventing backdoor corporate power grabs were key priorities for the Group, and a final assessment of the deal will be needed before the Parliament votes to approve or reject the deal in the coming years. http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UU9iC54Fm3tYgU4NhC-UeegA&v=vNm96cbmc0s

 

 

b. David spoke out recently against the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) provision in upcoming trade agreements which will give foreign investors the right to sue the EU or a Member State in behind-closed-doors arbitration. Labour MEPs do not support this abuse of corporate power and are challenging right-wing governments to exclude it. Governments must be able to legislate on public health, environment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPd0YYoiCmk&list=UU9iC54Fm3tYgU4NhC-UeegA&index=9

 

 

c. An Independent Scotland will be able to join the European Union, according to Labour’s most senior MEP. In an interview with the Sunday Herald, David Martin, Labour MEP for Scotland, effectively distanced himself from claims by the Better Together campaign – which he supports – that Scotland might fail to become a member of the EU after independence or be rejected by the European Commission.

He also said that Scotland will not have to join the euro or the Schengen common travel area in the event of a Yes vote. “My view is that Scotland, of course, would get into the EU eventually,” he said. “It’s not automatic, and would take several rounds of negotiations, but they’re not going to force us to join Schengen.

They’re not going to force us to join the euro.” Martin’s views carry considerable weight. First elected in 1984, he is Britain’s most senior Labour MEP, and indeed the second-longest serving member of the entire European Parliament. He made clear that he is campaigning for a No vote in September’s referendum, and does not wish Scotland to break away from the UK.

But he indicated that he expects the European Commission to be much more flexible in the event of a Yes vote than it has suggested so far. http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/referendum-news/labour-mep-independence-no-barrier-to-eu-membership.24250593 http://www.eurolabour.org.uk/david-martin-mep

 

 

Labour’s top MEP David Martin in expenses wrangle at launch of Euro campaign.

Mr Martin is top of the constituency list in Scotland whereas Mr Miller is third and in danger of losing his seat given that the number of Scottish MEPs is to fall from eight to seven.

Mr Miller denied he had provided the documents of details of Mr Martin’s financial arrangements that have resulted in the European Parliament investigating his allowances. “The information that the party got came from, as far as I’m aware, Billy Cook. There is no way I could get hold of that information,” he said.

Billy Cook, an Edinburgh Labour activist, is the brother of Mr Martin’s estranged wife, Margaret. Mr Cook handed details of Mr Martin’s expenses to the Labour Party and they were passed on the European Parliament.

In 2002, Mr Martin left his wife for Lorraine Davidson, a former Labour spindoctor and Daily Mirror journalist. “I have seen all the speculation,” Mr Miller said. “Why don’t people concentrate on whether David Martin is innocent or guilty? Has he committed what he is supposed to have done or not?”

He also denied that the prospect of his losing his seat on June 10 would have given him a motive to undermine Mr Martin’s campaign. “I have always known my job is on the line. I knew that when I went down to number three. “All this stuff is being made up by journalists and David Martin’s partner is a journalist with contacts.

It is a distraction from the real issue which is, has David Martin fraudulently siphoned money through his expenses? If he has not, then fine. If he has he will have to be dealt with.” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1461894/Labours-top-MEPs-in-expenses-wrangle-at-launch-of-Euro-campaign.html

 

Bill Miller  former (MEP) Bill Cook

 

Lorraine Davidson; Political columnist and journalist for the BBC and others. (Long term girlfriend of Tom Mccabe, Labour chief whip in the Scottish Executive. Later wife of Labour MEP David Martin.)

 

Lorraine Davidson Tom McCabe

 

Ms Davidson, who now works as a political columnist and journalist, said: “I think it’s as simple as this: if Labour loses the Glasgow East by-election I think Gordon Brown is finished. “Because it basically means that anyone in the PLP (Parliamentary Labour Party) with a majority of less than 13,500 is going to say, ‘if Gordon Brown’s the leader, we’re away as well’. “You’re really talking the bulk of the PLP. It’s complete and utter meltdown. “So if Glasgow East is lost I think you will see a challenge to Gordon Brown.

I just do not see how he can survive it.” However, Ms Davidson added that she did not feel there was the same desire to give the government a “good kicking” as she had detected at recent by-election defeats. Political opponents immediately seized on the situation as evidence that Labour was in “meltdown”. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7491928.stm, (includes video)

 

Labour Cabinet  Gordon Brown

 

Jack McConnell may have just celebrated his third anniversary as First Minister but next year a new biography will lift the lid on the leader penned by a writer with no less a colourful past than her subject.

Due out in summer 2005, the book is currently being researched by Daily Mirror journalist Lorraine Davidson who should know more than most the inner workings of the Scottish Labour hierarchy.

Not only has Davidson previously dated Tom McCabe, the then Labour chief whip in the Scottish Executive, but is now coming to the end of maternity leave after the birth of a son with Labour MEP David Martin.

But Jack can rest assured that the book is not being written on the back of some killer fact that might bring down the curtain on his First Ministership. “Lorraine just feels that Jack has been in the job long enough and the time is right for someone to write a new biography of him now,” says a bookworm.  http://www.scotsman.com/news/the_lady_who_wrote_the_book_on_jack_1_563825

 

Jack McConnell  Tom McCabe

 

 

Thomas McCabe. Long term boyfriend of Lorraine Davidson. Became an MSP in the first elections to the Scottish Parliament in 1999, later holding the positions of Minister for Parliament (1999–2001), Minister for Health and Community Care (2003–2004), later Minister for Finance. Member of the Scottish Parliament for Hamilton South until May 2011.

One year after losing his seat and salary as an MSP, former Labour minister Tom McCabe was employed by the Labour-run Glasgow Council as a ‘policy manager’ on a salary of nearly £50,000 a year.

Though purported to be a non-political role working for the Council’s Land and Environmental Services, McCabe did not appear to be an obvious choice of candidate, leading to accusations that it is his ties to the Labour party which secured him his employment.

The leader of Glasgow City Council was dragged into a sleaze row over the former Labour minister Tom McCabe landing a £50,000-a-year job with the local authority. The SNP accused Glasgow Labour leader Gordon Matheson of being too close to the appointment, after it emerged he was briefed about McCabe’s application by his top official.

Matheson had been alerted by George Black, Chief Executive of Glasgow City Council, in advance of McCabe being interviewed.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/row-over-hiring-of-former-labour-msp.18683268  http://www.scottishtimes.com/scottish/politics-scottish/tom-mccabe-lands-policy-job-at-glasgow-city-council/

 

Gordon Mathieson George Black

 

 

 

5 April 2015: Labour Party Election Promotion leaflets

Leaflets being distributed by Jim Murphy in his constituency feature are given over to an elderly pensioner, David Arthur who claims his support for the Labour party is based on the promise that it will protect pensioners free services, preventing the SNP from scrapping free personal care and the UK pension.

But is David simply a pensioner that has been duped by Murphy into believing the nonsense attributed to him or is he perhaps a willing participant promoting the spread of lies since that which he is placing at the door of the SNP is untrue in every respect.

I think perhaps the latter. David is an active member of Newton Mearns Parish Church and is a committed christian socialist. He has enjoyed a long standing friendship with Mr McIntosh and Jim Murphy stretching back to before 2003. So we have a put up job in regard to the leaflets which should be withdrawn by Mr Murphy.

@MrMalky @YesAlliance59 @agescotland this is a Labour leaflet in East Renfrewshire their time us coming http://t.co/yAtGD3TKJm—
Jay (@JINTY1B) April 05, 2015

http://munguinsrepublic.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/jimjust-wee-question.html

 

 
Check out the history:

 

26 March 2003 Scottish Daily Record -Forget the Experts- Here’s What Labour Party Supporting Scots Really Matter Think About the Big Issues Facing the Nation

David Arthur,77, Newton Mearns, near Glasgow, retired garage service manager:

“As a Christian socialist who passionately believes in honesty, truth, fairness and justice, I believe our First Minister and new Labour’s visions adhere to these principles. I strongly believe that Labour is not just for the few, it’s for all the people of Scotland.”

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/FORGET+THE+EXPERTS…+HERE%27S+WHAT+THE+SCOTS+WHO+REALLY+MATTER+THINK…-a0100691380

 

 

26 March 2011: Massive recycling complex planned for Newton Mearns – Rebuff for waste plan

The first of two public meetings with developers behind the controversial Loganswell recycling scheme saw emotions running high as fears about possible toxic waste pollution surfaced. The meeting, at Newton Mearns Parish Church on Sunday, was organised by local Labour MSP Ken Macintosh, who has already stated his total opposition to the scheme.

Local resident David Arthur commented “I am really grateful to Ken for organising this meeting.
This development could have massive consequences for Eastwood and it is reassuring our local MSP is standing with residents on this issue.”

http://www.ernhw.org.uk/forum/2-public-forum/10469-massive-recycling-complex-planned-for-newton-mearn?start=162

 

 

 

24 October 2008: Jim Murphy invites Older People to unique event

Jim and colleague MSP Ken Macintosh have organised unique event for East Renfrewshire older people on Friday 31st October. The event will bring together many of the organisations which support older people. It will take place on Friday 31st October in Newton Mearns Parish Church from 10.30am- 12pm and St Johns Parish Church Hall, Barrhead

Local pensioner David Arthur said:

“I was delighted to be invited to this event for older people by my local MP and MSP. I think it will provide a lot of very useful and helpful information and I am looking forward to attending.
Come along to whichever event you wish, there is no need to book a place.”

http://www.jimmurphy.scot/news-room/News-desk/news.aspx?p=104396

 

3 May 2012: East Renfrewshire Labour’s manifesto for the 2012 Local Council elections

“They also introduced the Citizen’s Panel to conduct regular surveys, allowing people like me to have my say. Labour introduced the minimum wage and now the living wage, which will increase to 7.20 per hour. Labour will keep East Renfrewshire a Number 1 place to live.” David Arthur, Newton Mearns East Renfrewshire.

 

 

Ken Macintosh MSP and great buddy of Jim Urphy. A Tandem act in Renfrewshire

 

 

Ken Macintosh; Was a television producer for the BBC before Standing for and winning, in 1999 the Eastwood seat in the new Scottish parliament. He is still incumbent in Eastwood.

 

Ken Macintosh

 

Labour MSP for Eastwood, Ken Macintosh has been urged to apologise for playing politics with school trips to Auschwitz.

The Westminster Government announced in February 2008 that £4.65 million was to be made available to fund trips to Auschwitz for English school children.

Mr Macintosh tabled an amendment in the Scottish Parliament calling on the, ‘Barnett consequentials’ of this funding to be ring-fenced and, ‘used specifically to support Scottish pupils for this same purpose’.

Despite there being no ‘Barnett consequentials’ of this money, which Mr Macintosh should have known, he then went on to accuse the SNP of blocking school trips to Auschwitz and he and his colleague Labour MP Jim Murphy contacted the Jewish Telegraph to reiterate these claims.

The amendment was voted against as there were no additional monies transferred to the Scottish Government arising  from the UK decision and there has never been a specific fund in Scotland for schoolchildrens’ visits to Auschwitz.

Maureen Watt, The Minister for Schools, wrote to Mr McIntosh and made the situation clear. So far the silence has been deafening.

It was revealed that contrary to Mr Macintosh’s and Mr Murphy’s attacks the Scottish Government works with the Holocaust Educational Trust ensuring children are educated on the holocaust  and  is providing £25,000 for Renfrewshire to host Holocaust memorial day in 2009 and is supportive of the creation of  a holocaust museum in Scotland.

“After their shameful and opportunistic attacks on an issue that should be above party politics Mr Macintosh and Mr Murphy must apologise for the distress they caused to the Jewish community and for the attempt to mislead Parliament, parents and pupils on this sensitive issue.” http://www.stewartmaxwellmsp.com/2008/05/labour-msp-ken-macintosh-must-apologise-says-maxwell-6/

 

Macintosh & Murphy

 

The Labour leader has been unable to name all three candidates in the race to become leader of the Scottish party. Ed Miliband named two of them – but could not remember Ken Macintosh MSP, the candidate being tipped to win.

In an interview with BBC Scotland, Mr Miliband named MP Tom Harris and deputy Scottish Labour leader and MSP Johann Lamont.

Mr Macintosh later laughed off the incident, saying: “If anything, it shows that politicians are human.” (video) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-15104173

 

Ed Miliband, Johann Lamont . Anwar Sarwar

 

The Sunday Herald revealed that Macintosh accepted a campaign donation of £1,625 from Scottish Asian Pakistan (SAP) Foundation in December when he was a candidate for leadership of the Labour party in Scotland. He came in second in the contest, despite Labour leader Ed Miliband being unable to recall his name.

The Scottish Asian Pakistan Foundation describes itself as a charity which aims to give advice and support to members of the Scottish Asian community (SAP) in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Charities are legally prohibited from making political donations and are intended to be non-political bodies.

However there are close links between the board of directors of SAP and the Labour party. One of the directors of SAP is Mr Amer Masood, who is also general secretary of Edinburgh Labour Community Cohesion Taskforce. On its website, this group describes its aim as being to “promote Labour party policies and beliefs” amongst members of Edinburgh’s ethnic minority communities.

Mr Maxwell, SNP MSP for West Scotland, said: “This is a serious error of judgement by Ken Macintosh in taking a political donation from a body that describes itself as a charity. “As it appears to have come from a non-permissible source, he should return the money immediately.

“Charities must not make political donations either to parties or to individual candidates and it is a breach for an organisation to describe itself as a charity when it isn’t.”

“Mr Macintosh has got himself embroiled in a disastrous situation that casts a huge question mark over his ability to be a finance spokesman. He should return the money and make it clear how much he knew about the SAP Foundation describing itself as a charitable organisation.”

http://www.newsnetscotland.scot/index.php/scottish-news/4331-snp-urge-ken-macintosh-to-return-impermissible-donation

 

Johann Lamont, Ken Macintosh, Tom Harris

 

 

Carol Craig

 

Carol Craig:  Close links to Gordon Brown, Donald Dewar et al. Labour Party in the West of Scotland.

B.A Politics – Strathclyde University, Phd Politics – Edinburgh University.  1992. Set up her own training consultant company Enspire,  2004. Chief Executive Centre for Confidence and Well Being.  July 2006. Awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Abertay. Worked For the BBC.

September 2014: Bubbly Carol Craig,  Former girl friend of Gordon Brown, Garscadden Labour Party secretary under one Donald ‘The Don’ Dewar and wife of Alf Young (a close friend of the head of the electoral commission, John McCormick), wrote a heart rending article in the Guardian professing torture over a yes/no decision in Scotland’s referendum:

She explained. “We’re told that independence is an intoxicating revival of our battered democracy. Yet deciding how to cast my vote has proved the most agonising decision of my life. People are framing the decision we face as essentially about confidence. The yeses are filled with confidence and optimism in themselves and their country, it is claimed. The no’s are a bunch of under-confident fearties.”

The very idea that a former girl friend of the great quoter of biblical text, saviour of the Union, and one-time Prime Minister of all Britain was even considering a Yes vote merely invites us all to share an outburst of hollow laughter. http://www.scotsman.com/scottish-independence/carol-craig-why-this-optimist-is-voting-no/   https://wakeupscotland.wordpress.com/2014/10/12/carol-craig-on-selfishness-and-the-scottish-independence-referendum

 

Donald DewerJohn McCormickGordon Brown

 

 

I might have been persuaded by this girlish tizzy if only I hadn’t read Tom Bower’s unofficial biography of Gordon Brown, which vouchsafed that in her days as a young publicist she’d been the future prime minister’s amour prior to entering into her relationship with the Electoral Commissioner’s pal Alf Young.  http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/10/scotland-yes-campaign-snp-pollyannas

 

Gordon Brown & a couple of pals

 

September 2014: Registered charity, “The Centre for Confidence & Well-being was founded by Craig after the success of her first book “The Scots’ Crisis of Confidence” and the well received “Tipping Point Event” in 2004.

Carol is the driving force of the Centre and is constantly seeking new and innovative ideas to ensure that it maintains its unique and successful role as a leading organisation in the field of Positive Psychology.

It is disappointing that she is in breach of the charity code by writing a politically biased article aimed at influencing the vote of members/users of the charity. http://www.centreforconfidence.co.uk/carolsblog.php?&p=aWQ9ODkxJmJsb2dpZD0x

 

Carol Craig

 

September 2014: Carol, one time girlfriend of Gordon Brown confirmed New Labour lovie and her, “crisis of confidence”.

Carol closely identifies with the West Coast Labour Party Network and is part of the Willie Ross / Donald Dewar clique.

She published an erudite study into why there was a ‘Scots – crisis of confidence’.

For our part We like the SNP standing up to the establishment bullies, we feel better about ourselves, the Scottish nation moves on to better things and proves what the academic Carol Craig’s book stated was in fact holding us back but tramples over Ms Craig’s, ‘New Labour’ political sureties because part of her (and many of us) ‘knows’ she is siding with the perceived ‘bullies’ and her identified cause as the basis of the Scots – crisis of confidence.

Is it any surprise she is a bit tense and unsure of her political argument, so resorts to her own form of name calling, censorship and bullying on her blog and web site – it is, after all, the Unionists’ default state.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:BVmSzr6y0dIJ:tarffadvertiser.blogspot.com/2012/06/scotland-carol-craigs-crisis-of.html+&cd=77&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a

 

Labour Party Network

 

 

September 2014: Carol taken to task by Matthew Wilson in an excellent response to her, “I’m reluctantly voting no blog”

He wrote, “Again your characterisation of the YES campaign is just wrong when you say it is Pollyanna and it thinks there will be, ‘No losers anywhere, from Lerwick to Dumfries’.

There will be definitely be losers, the Labour Party are finished, landowners with unregistered, untaxed and subsidised land will be losers and there should be a clamp down on unregulated finance and tax avoidance.

As you know from your work, some of the poor are gone – emotionally, psychologically and economically – and it will take a long time before some areas are recovered to facilitate everyone to live a fully human life”. http://teachersforyes.net/2014/09/13/persuading-our-heroes-an-open-letter-to-carol-craig/

 

Poor Polyanna

 

Carol Craig and Alf Young have two sons. The family lives in Wester Ross. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/reviewofteacheremployment/reviewteam/alfyoung

Born and raised in Greenock, the son of a shipyard craftsman, Alf holds degrees in natural philosophy and education. He has also been awarded honorary degrees by four Scottish universities. He started out as a teacher of maths and physics and later became a lecturer at Jordanhill College of Education.

There followed by a brief career as a researcher for the Labour Party in Scotland.

Aged 34, he launched his career in the media  and after an introductory spell at Radio Clyde, moved into newspapers in 1981 at the short-lived Sunday Standard, followed by spells at the BBC and The Scotsman.

In 1986, he joined the Herald as its first economics editor. Later he was deputy editor to Harry Reid. From 2000 he filled other executive editorial roles. He was a regular speaker and facilitator at conferences and seminars.

Alf was a member of the group which helped devise the financial arrangements for Scotland’s devolved government.

He served on BP’s Scottish advisory board for three years,  then,  from 2000 to 2007, chaired the Glasgow advisory board of the sinister networking organisation COMMON PURPOSE.

He is currently chairman of Riverside Inverclyde, the pathfinder urban regeneration company charged with bringing new life to the waterfront of the communities centred on Greenock on the Lower Clyde.

At the beginning of 2010 he also became chairman of Social Investment Scotland which provides finance for the third sector. He is also an economic advisor to the Scottish Council.

He writes, broadcasts and comments on a range of issues affecting Scotland and the wider world.

He retired in 2009 from The Herald, the leading Scottish broadsheet newspaper, where he was responsible for comment and opinion.

For 22 years he also wrote his own columns in a number of newspapers on business, economic and political issues.

He currently writes for the online Scottish Review and is a regular contributor to BBC current affairs programmes.

Alf nailed his colours to the mast of the better together campaign writing, “the decision by the SNP to play the long game on the referendum campaign may result in their own downfall!. http://www.scotsman.com/news/alf-young-referendum-dream-could-become-nightmare-1-3264370 http://www.scotsman.com/news/alf-young-independence-argument-as-old-as-hills-1-3255134

 

Alf Young second left & Carol Craig second right

 

In his pro Better Together blog, “Wake up Scotland” he attacked Professor Tom Devine for having the audacity to support a yes vote in the referendum. http://wakeupscotland.wordpress.com/2014/09/15/alf-young-professor-sir-tom-devine-a-riposte/

 

Professor Tom Devine

 

Commenting on a distortion of facts presented by alf in Inverclyde Community Forums a fellow poster said, “Its hard to find anyone analysing the figures from a neutral standpoint and alf young certainly is nowhere near it, he was infamous at, “The Herald” for his consistent pro-Labour Party and pro-Unionist stories – One of a band of merry men who helped destroy a once great paper. http://nawthenoo.net/forums/index.php?action=printpage;topic=3458.0

 

The Three Amigos

Wendy Alexander

 

Wendy Alexander:  is a retired Scottish politician.

She graduated from the University of Glasgow with a First Class MA (Hons) in Economic and Modern History. She later gained a postgraduate MA in Industrial Relations from the University of Warwick, and an MBA from INSEAD. After her MBA Alexander worked for Booz & Co., an international management consultancy, undertaking assignments in Europe, Asia, North America and Australasia.

A former Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Paisley North. She held various Scottish Government cabinet posts and was the leader of the Labour Party group in the Scottish Parliament from 2007–2008.

She is a good friend of Sarah Smith, daughter of the late John, one-time leader of the Labour Party who also found the invitation north for the referendum impossible to refuse. Sarah had a lovely wedding not so long ago which she shared with her friends the Alexander twins and their father who married Sarah (as minister officiating not, well you know).

Other guests included the great and the good (it’s a phrase okay) from the Labour Party. Sarah’s sister is the daughter-in-law of the Right Honourable the Lord George Robertson of Port Ellen, KT, GCMG, FRSA, FRSE, PC and of the Labour Party. Do you think he says that every time he answers the phone? Sarah’s political shows on BBC Scotland have not been well-received but that’s no reason for her not to keep trying. Go Sarah go!

Following Tony Blair’s election in May 1997, she was appointed Special Adviser to Donald Dewar when he became Secretary of State for Scotland. She was deeply involved in the preparation of the White Paper on devolution, the Scotland Act 1998 and preparations for the establishment of the Scottish Parliament, all matters she had published on during the 1990s. She is reported as saying, “Scotland wants to see a future that allows her to walk taller within the UK without walking out” calling for a new “expert-led and independent” Scottish constitutional commission. Also attributed to her is the statement, “history teaches that constitutional reform has never been gifted to Scotland. It has to be fought and argued for”.

 

Donald Dewer (Deceased)Sarah Smith

 

May 4 2008. During a TV interview, she suggested that she would be willing to support a referendum on Scottish Independence saying, “Bring It On!”. It was a bold move, but led to suggestions of a rift between her and the Prime Minister, (Gordon Brown) who did not overtly back her. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OncoO1duwU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKGlxlfL8MI http://www.scotsman.com/news/labour-implodes-over-independence-vote-1-1167291

 

Wendy Alexander

 

2008. A Channel Islands businessman Paul Green made a second illegal donation to the Labour Party in 2008. His contribution to Wendy Alexander’s Leadership campaign brought a public apology from her after she admitted his cheque broke strict donation rules. Meanwhile, First Minister Alex Salmond said the police might have to investigate the affair.”

 

 

She stood down from her role as leader and subsquently left parliament. John Swinney commented, “Labour have no idea where they are going. They’re already fighting like ferrets in a sack, as they always do – which is at the root of the Wendy Alexander problem by the way – about the issue of the independence referendum. It’s all over the newspapers, they’re taking different views, they’re all bad-mouthing each other in the process,” he said. He added: “That’s all part of the furniture of the Labour party’s contribution to Scottish politics.” http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/jun/30/scotland.labour

 

Alex SalmondJohn Swinney

 

January 2011. Wendy’s chequered career had been somewhat in the doldrums until given a new lease of life recently by the decision of the Coalition to implement, almost in full, the recommendations of the Calman Commission on Devolution. As this body was largely a personal invention of Ms Alexander, she was made convenor of the Holyrood committee charged with examining the Scotland Bill, which gives legislative effect to what Calman proposed. And it was during a session of this committee last week that the lady, “got tore into”, as they say in these parts, by two learned professors of economics who had come up with opinions that seemed to support, not enhanced devolution – which is her preferred option – but outright separation. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/alancochrane/8273528/How-Wendy-Alexander-ruined-my-lunch.html

 

respected academic Alan Trench

 

January 2011. Wendy had often been accused of intransigence and arrogance so anyone that might dare to voice opposition to her nonsensical Bill risks public humiliation. The respected academic Alan Trench has filed a devastating post today on why he will no longer give evidence to the committee. Trench, of the Constitution Unit at University College London and Edinburgh University, is unhappy at the way the committee monstered two other academics, Professor Andrew Hughes Hallett and Professor Drew Scott. http://joanmcalpine.typepad.com/joan_mcalpine/2011/01/httpdevolutionmatterswordpresscom20110114how-not-to-do-business-holyroods-scotland-bill-committee.html

 

Professor Andrew Hughes HallettProfessor Drew Scott

 

February 2011: Wendy Alexander walked out yet again, resigning her Paisley seat citing the oldest and lamest excuse in politics, “to spend time with her family”. She leaves the Scottish Labour leader, Iain Gray, and fellow career women in the lurch. Though somehow, I don’t think this is the last we have heard of Wendy.

 

Iain Gray

 

February 2011. Wendy was always regarded as one of Labour’s brightest talents. The outspoken former government minister was tipped as a future Scottish Labour leader almost since the beginning of devolution itself. A row once ensued over a leaked letter she wrote to former SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars, in which she wrote, “perhaps the last time the Labour movement in Scotland had made a real intellectual contribution to the party nationally was in 1906”. One thing is for sure – Ms Alexander’s stormy, 10-month stint doing the job, when she eventually got it, isn’t likely to be forgotten any time soon. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-12496030

 

Jim Sillars & Margo Macdonald

 

December 2011: Linwood named 2011 Carbuncle “winner”. From the Hillman Imp to Tescotown, Linwood has gone down the toilet as its main shopping centre has been slowly run into the ground by Tesco. A local council worker ventured, “Its like Fort Apache. I feel really strongly about the sociological implications never mind the health implications. They seem to strangle every initiative… it’s this, “Tescoisation” of the world where they’ll buy up land so no-one else can build. At the bottom of the food chain are the punters who are in effect powerless.” http://www.urbanrealm.com/news/3264linwood_named_2011_Carbuncle_%27winner%27.html http://www.andywightman.com/?p=2475

 

Linwood named 2011 Carbuncle “winner”

 

April 2012. Wendy appointed to the position of Associate Dean at London Business School where she provides strategic leadership for the school’s degree programmes. The Business School is a leader in the field of business education and is consistently ranked among the best in the world for our full-time MBA programme.

 

London Business School

 

May 2012. Scottish Equity Partners (SEP) is pleased to announce that Wendy Alexander is to join its advisory board. Commenting on the appointment, SEP Managing Partner Calum Paterson said: “I am delighted that Wendy Alexander is joining our advisory board. She will bring a distinct and valuable perspective to our business. I have no doubt that our investment team and portfolio companies will benefit greatly from her considerable and broad ranging experience”. Wendy said, “I am very pleased to have the opportunity to continue my relationship with Scottish Equity Partners. Venture capital and private equity plays a significant role in the enterprise economy and I am looking forward to helping the firm to build on its successful track record.”

 

Scottish Equity Partners (SEP)

 

September 2013. In his book, “Power Trip” Damian McBride, (former Gordon Brown hit man), claimed Douglas Alexander dispassionately told the Prime Minister that his sister had to quit in order to avoid further damage, advising that, his sister’s resignation should not be linked to comments she had made about the independence referendum but instead should be attributed to the earlier matter of payments made to her campaign fund. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/labours-douglas-alexander-denies-claims-2287977

 

Damian McBride,

 

Brian Ashcroft was Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute. The institute is often cited on BBC Scotland as an independent think-tank which coincidentally issues lots of warnings about the weakness of the Scottish economy.

The BBC subordinated the GERS report to a commentary by the Fraser of Allander Institute allegedly indicating Scotland’s economy was too weak to sustain independence. They ran the story all day but did not reveal once that the Fraser Institute is a New Labour “think-tank”, and its head is the husband of Wendy Alexander, failed New Labour leader, and brother-in-law of shadow Foreign Minister Douglas Alexander. Fraser has an appalling forecasting record, having issued dire and completely wrong forecasts on growth ever since the SNP came to power.

Wendy Alexander’s husband, is to step down from his academic post as director of the Fraser of Allander Institute at Strathclyde University to spend more time with their twins. His decision, announced yesterday, will allow Ms Alexander to spend more of her time on the onerous task of leading Labour in opposition. He pointed out that he will still be teaching part-time at the university and will continue some academic research. He further explained, “I am 60 and have been director of the Institute for ten years and policy director for seven years. That meant a high work load. I am at the time of my life when I would like more flexibility. My wife is just about to become the leader of the Scottish parliamentary Labour group, which is a very demanding role.” He added that their age difference came into it when making the decision about caring for 18-month-old Caitlin and Michael. “I am 60 and she is only 44 and so it seemed the right thing to do in being prepared to give her more support,” he said. “In Wendy’s job, there is going to be a lot of pressure on her and that backwashes on me. This is what I want to do and I am excited about doing it. I am still being re-engaged on a part-time basis. I will do some teaching, some research and my own projects as well as supporting Wendy and looking after the kids”. Asked if that made him a, “new man”, Ashcroft – who has a 24-year-old daughter from his previous marriage as well as a 26-year-old step-daughter – joked: “Given my age, I am a pretty old man”. http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/for-love-of-wendy-and-their-children-1-917526

 

Brian Ashcroft