Hamilton MSP urged to run for Scottish Labour leader

Jul 3 2008 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

TOM McCabe was this week facing pressure to stand for the leadership of the Scottish Labour Party.

Members of the party from all levels have approached the Hamilton South MSP and former Scottish finance minister in the wake of Wendy Alexander’s resignation.

One party insider said: “Strong pressure is being put on Tom to stand for the leadership by MPs, MSPs and council leaders.”

A number of senior Labour party figures have already indicated that they are considering putting their names forward.

Mr McCabe, who ran Ms Alexander’s leadership election campaign, however, stressed this week he had not made any decision on the matter.

“I have no intention of doing that at the moment; I don’t have any intention one way or the other,” he told the Advertiser.

South Lanarkshire Council leader Eddie McAvoy said this week that Mr McCabe had the necessary leadership skills, and would be a good candidate.

“There’s no doubt that Tom McCabe would bring a lot to the leadership of the party,” he commented.

“He’s got the vision and the intelligence. He’s quick on his feet, and would be a real match for Salmond.”

Holyrood colleague, Hamilton North and Bellshill MSP Michael McMahon, said it was no suprise that Mr McCabe was facing demands to stand given his skills and experience.

“There will be an array of high-calibre candidates coming forward,” he pointed out.

“Tom McCabe, however, has a proven track record, at local government level and as a former finance minister.

“He knows exactly what is required to prepare a budget for the people of Scotland, and is the kind of candidate we are looking for.”

The process of chosing a new party leader will not commence until the end of this month.

East Kilbride MSP Andy Kerr has been tipped as a successor to Ms Alexander. However, he has still to make his intentions clear.

Ms Alexander stepped down on Saturday after Holyrood’s standards committee ruled she should be suspended from Parliament.

She had failed to declare in the register of interests donations given during her leadership campaign.

Her resignation was necessary, she said, because as long as she remained leader the issue would continue to dominate the political agenda.

Ms Alexander, however, also took a swipe at the Standards Committee, comprising three SNP, one Conservative, one Lib Dem and two Labour MSPs, blaming it on party-political partisanship.

Mr McMahon commented: "There's no doubt that mistakes were made by Wendy some time ago.

"It would be wrong to hide or ignore the element of self-infliction in all of this.

"However, it's also fair to point out that she's gone because of the way events were used and manipulated by the opposition.

"Parliament is the bastion of high standards that everyone should follow and when that committee allows itself to be led by party interest, a very dangerous situation has been created."

Mr McCabe described as "scandalous" the treatment Ms Alexander had received in Parliament during the past year.

He added: "What happened in Parliament last week shows that, nine years in, it is still a very immature place.

"People don't have the gravitas to rise above a situation and take the politics out of it.

"It can happen in Westminster, and that is what is required in the long-term interests of [Holyrood]."