Findlay says information going to party members for leadership vote is “insulting”

Neil Findlay MSP, who is running to be leader of the Scottish Labour Party, is calling on the Labour Party to clarify what information will be given to members with Leadership ballot papers.

At the moment it looks as though the booklet with candidate statements in it only lists the nominations each candidate received from Parliamentarians and not from Constituency Labour Parties, trade Unions or socialist societies.

In response to this, Findlay has released the following statement:

“Over the last 24 hours I have been made aware of a deep frustration from local Labour Party branches and affiliated organisations that their nominations for the leadership campaign have been excluded from the candidates booklet. 

I view all parts of our Labour Party as equal so I am surprised that Only MPs and MSPs nominations have been included.

It is insulting given the effort and expense members, CLP’s Trade Union’s and socialist societies went to organise special meetings and consultation events, only to be ignored as seemingly inconsequential.

I am contacting the Labour Party today to find out why this has happened and what they can do to fix this.”

Update: A spokesperson for Jim Murphy said that the MP was “angry” that the full nomination information wasn’t included in the booklet issued to members:

“Given that Mr Murphy received support from the majority of Scottish Labour councillors, CLPs and Parliamentarians, as well as the support of Scottish Young Labour, Scottish Labour Students, Community and USDAW, he is also angry that this information hasn’t been communicated to party members.”

The party is yet to respond, but this seems certain to come up at tomorrow’s key hustings event in Glasgow.