Saturday, 28 June 2008

So farewell then Wendy Alexander

Having spent the last week and a half in Scotland,it was difficult to avoid the news over Wendy Alexander,but her resignation today took many people by surprise.

As late as last night,it appeared to be business as usual,the whole thing packaged as a conspiracy instigated by the Scottish nationalists.Her one day suspension was hardly going to lead to any long lasting problems and it was highly unlikely that the measure would have been passed on a full vote in the Scottish parliament.

Alexander's own resignation statement emphisies the role of the SNP.

"The process of successive SNP inspired complaints and investigations has been unrelenting and will continue well into the autumn almost a year after the initial complaint.
"My pursuers have sought the prize of political victory with little thought to the standing of parliament.
"Some may feel they have achieved a political victory but wiser head will ask at what price?
"It is clear that vexatious complaints will continue and dominate the headlines as long as I remain Labour's Scottish parliamentary leader


However was there more behind the resignation.Her stance on the referendum issue has clearly irked colleagues in London,twice suggesting that the nationalists should bring forward the vote,believing that the Scottish people would reject any such measures

Fraser Nelson is in Scotland and sums up the issue quite well

She’s not corrupt, or dodgy. Her £950 is paltry compared to other sums. I certainly heard sexist abuse about her (even Salmond would refer to her meetings with female Labour MSPs as a “coven”). But in the last analysis she was not up to the job – and it way well be that no one else in the Scottish Labour Party is up to the job either.

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