I was interested in the Herald’s lead story this morning about Jack McConnell having held “secret” talks about securing a role in an incoming Conservative government.
According to the paper’s story Jack met William Hague to talk about what role he could perform in a new Tory government after the election in May. Clearly Jack has little confidence in there being a Labour government in June!
Since losing the election and behaving like a bairn throwing his toys out of the pram and being succeeded as leader of the Labour Group in the Scottish Parliament, Jack has had a hard time trying to make a mark in international relations instead of getting on with the job we pay him to as MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw. Blair had promised that he would be the next High Commissioner (Ambassador) to Malawi, but that fell through when it was realised that a by-election in his seat might well mean another Labour defeat.
It is said that he was to be sent to the Lords; a possibility given his 6 year term as First Minister of the second biggest country in the union, but this also failed to materialise.
McConnell was appointed by the Clinton Hunter Development Initiative (an organisation set up by President Clinto
n and Tom Hunter to alleviate poverty in Malawi and Rwanda) to provide educational advice. He was also appointed Gordon Brown’s special representative on “conflict resolution mechanisms”, although exactly what experience he has to offer that role is not clear.
I actually quite like Jack McConnell. I’ve met with him and I found him interesting and interested in what he was being told, but I have yet to have it explained to me how someone who is roving the world resolving conflicts, at a huge cost, can possibly be attending the parliament in Edinburgh and giving his full attention to the work of that parliament and the interests of his constituents.
If he no longer finds the job in Edinburgh to his liking, or beneath his dignity, he should have the guts to stand down and look for something he feels is more to his taste....Ambassador, Conflict Resolver, International Playboy, whatever. It is what the rest of us do.
I’d be happy for him to have a job under the Tories. The man seems to have a genuine interest in Africa and in Malawi in particular. There may well be a role for him. However, he can hardly be a Labour MSP and a Tory official. One of the jobs will have to go. As the SNP’s John Wilson said: “The voters of Motherwell and Wishaw are being reminded once again that they are being represented by a part-time MSP, who is happier to jaunt around the world than he is dealing with issues in his own constituency.”
Aye Mr Wilson, but he’s being paid as a full time MP out of OUR money.
Pictures: Jack McConnell in...erm....a skirt: A Malawian street market.
According to the paper’s story Jack met William Hague to talk about what role he could perform in a new Tory government after the election in May. Clearly Jack has little confidence in there being a Labour government in June!
Since losing the election and behaving like a bairn throwing his toys out of the pram and being succeeded as leader of the Labour Group in the Scottish Parliament, Jack has had a hard time trying to make a mark in international relations instead of getting on with the job we pay him to as MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw. Blair had promised that he would be the next High Commissioner (Ambassador) to Malawi, but that fell through when it was realised that a by-election in his seat might well mean another Labour defeat.
It is said that he was to be sent to the Lords; a possibility given his 6 year term as First Minister of the second biggest country in the union, but this also failed to materialise.
McConnell was appointed by the Clinton Hunter Development Initiative (an organisation set up by President Clinto
n and Tom Hunter to alleviate poverty in Malawi and Rwanda) to provide educational advice. He was also appointed Gordon Brown’s special representative on “conflict resolution mechanisms”, although exactly what experience he has to offer that role is not clear.I actually quite like Jack McConnell. I’ve met with him and I found him interesting and interested in what he was being told, but I have yet to have it explained to me how someone who is roving the world resolving conflicts, at a huge cost, can possibly be attending the parliament in Edinburgh and giving his full attention to the work of that parliament and the interests of his constituents.
If he no longer finds the job in Edinburgh to his liking, or beneath his dignity, he should have the guts to stand down and look for something he feels is more to his taste....Ambassador, Conflict Resolver, International Playboy, whatever. It is what the rest of us do.
I’d be happy for him to have a job under the Tories. The man seems to have a genuine interest in Africa and in Malawi in particular. There may well be a role for him. However, he can hardly be a Labour MSP and a Tory official. One of the jobs will have to go. As the SNP’s John Wilson said: “The voters of Motherwell and Wishaw are being reminded once again that they are being represented by a part-time MSP, who is happier to jaunt around the world than he is dealing with issues in his own constituency.”
Aye Mr Wilson, but he’s being paid as a full time MP out of OUR money.
Pictures: Jack McConnell in...erm....a skirt: A Malawian street market.
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