SNP Provan - Its not what you know or what your experience is - it is who you know or who you have been employed by

There now follows a party political broadcast on behalf of SNP Glasgow Provan...

#SortOutProvan

Shut the f**k up! Are these the words of a local ned? No they are the words of the recently elected Provan MSP Ivan McKee

I cannot believe what I heard back from an SNP meeting tonight!! (This has now been corroborated from multiple sources).

Newly elected MSP Ivan McKee (Provan branch), who as you'll recall hired a person who had made inappropriate references to the IRA on his Facebook page, (see this post regarding Allan Casey) told a group of concerned branch members that they could "shut the fuck up" instead of discussing it on social media. It must be stressed that the only reason it was being discussed on social media is that a newspaper link to the IRA story had been posted on a Scottish independence site.

Firstly Ivan McKee should not have hired the person without proper background checks. He seems to have hired him just because he was a best friend or crony of the MP Anne McLaughlin.

Secondly, the people the MSP Ivan McKee told to "shut the fuck up" worked very hard to get him elected and have every right to raise and talk about their concerns. 

The incident reflects badly on the SNP and also on the people who helped get you elected. Nobody has any right to talk to people like that, and swearing at members (especially from a member of government) is inappropriate and unprofessional.

Furthermore, another elected representative Anne McLaughlin who hired all her pals and partner after becoming elected put on the waterworks when accused of nepotism.

nepotism : the practice among those in power or influence of favouring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.

The irony!

What's worse is that said partner then told those concerned to "watch their backs". So we now have personal threats in addition to the rest. Shocking!

The things coming out about Provan branch SNP just seem to be getting more and more outrageous. 

Who is running this branch? 

Why would anyone, least of all the Secretary of Provan SNP Ruari Kelly think of putting a pic holding a crossbow is suitable as a profile pic when he is going for office high up in the SNP? Notice he is going for the Disciplinary Committee. Does this mean he is going to use the crossbow on anyone found to have committed anything he deems an infraction? 

Ruari Kelly SNP, Secretary for SNP Provan

Not only do we have allegedcronyism/nepotism (please also see this post), we have alleged bullying incidents at meetings please see myblog (now that I know that this is the branch that was discussed), we have people enthused by the indyref supposedly leaving in disgust after a single or a few meetings, and now we have a person as secretary whose judgement should be called into question at the very least. 

Are we not now getting to resignation territory?

Why is something not being done about this by the SNP? Do they want to attract disrepute and lose the next election and possibly the next independence referendum as a result? They seem to be actively courting bad publicity and for what ends? 

I am strongly pro-independence and pro-SNP (although less so now that I have been hearing regarding this branch, even although at the beginning I didn't know these stories were to do with this specific branch as the information was sent to me anonymously) but I have becoming increasingly worried by the responses to these stories. Why do pro-indy people in general (although not all) react as if this is to do with the messenger being a hostile enemy rather than a concerned but critical friend? It is exactly because this sort of behaviour needs to be nipped in the bud (look at what happened to the Labour Party in Scotland) that it is being raised at this time. Do we want these people being in Government of an independent Scotland? I think the answer to that is, most definitely not!

It seems SNP Provan is starting to attract the attention of the main stream media now after my post a few weeks ago regarding their AGM. Interestingly at that very same AGM the person in the story mentioned below was elected Vice Convenor.

http://thefreescott.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/should-have-been-tea-and-sympathy.html

This is the danger of employing mates without proper background checks and when you don't go through a proper advertising/interview process.

So much for being a left winger and bringing jobs to the community. This new MSP has already taken three people out of well paid jobs to give them jobs in his office. Cronyism at it's worst.

And what's worse is he's not the only one of our elected reps to have appointed their mates to jobs since winning elections. Aye, best mates, partners, the lot - all's fair game AFTER they've seen REAL hard working, passionate campaigners do the donkey-work for them. It's a joke, and a slap in the face to those who genuinely wanted something different.

I still believe in an independent Scotland and the SNP will need to really get the finger out now if this is to happen. No more of stuff like this please!!!

This story appeared in the Herald/ Sunday Herald a few days ago...

SNP MSP gives official warning to aide who posted pro-IRA messages

Ivan McKee: Recently elected MSP for Glasgow Provan

An SNP MSP has given one his aides an official warning after being alerted to a raft of pro-IRA messages on the staff member’s social media account.

Allan Casey, who works for MSP Ivan McKee, repeatedly wrote “Up the Provos” and praised former members of the terrorist organisation.

He is also linked to a flute band that honours former IRA volunteer Martin ‘Doco’ Doherty.

In a statement released yesterday, an SNP spokesperson said: “The posts in question are from several years before Mr Casey joined the SNP or worked for any parliamentarians.

“Mr Casey acknowledges that these posts were in extremely poor taste and has deleted them. His employer has reminded him of the high standards expected of staff. Mr Casey has been warned about his behaviour and understands that any repeat would be unacceptable."

McKee was elected as the Nationalist MSP for Glasgow Provan in May, while colleague Anne McLaughlin represents a similar seat at Westminster.

Casey, who was a Yes campaigner in Glasgow during the referendum, used to work for McLaughlin and is currently employed as McKee’s “parliamentary assistant”.

He has uncompromising views on Northern Ireland and his Facebook account contains a range of pro-Republican messages.

Allan Casey: Tweet from 14.04.2012

In April 2012, he flagged up the “Annual Volunteer Martin Doherty Commemoration Weekend Events”, which included a set by the Republican Flute Band (RFB) he is linked to.

In the same month, he wrote: “volunteer martin Doherty rfb no1 real pride of govan, up the provos – sinn fein abu [sic].”

Doherty was an IRA volunteer shot dead in 1994 by the loyalist terror group the Ulster Volunteer Force.

Allan Casey: Tweet from 29.01.2012

Casey also posted comments reminding people of “band practice” for the pro-Doherty group and asked for help in raising the organisation’s social media profile.

In February 2012, he paid tribute to IRA volunteers Declan Martin and Henry Hogan: “Killed on active service 28 years ago today while engaging in a gun battle with undercover SAS scum.”

Allan Casey: Tweet from 25.02.2012

Earlier that year, he again wrote “up the provos!” and posted: “Your deeds would shame all the devils in hell – f**k the brits, remember bloody Sunday 30th January 1972.”

In another posting, Casey remembered “Vol [volunteer] Pearse Jordan”, who was killed by a Royal Ulster Constabulary officer in 1992: “A brave son of Ireland We Will Not Forget You.”

All the messages were on Casey’s public Facebook site, which includes pictures of him with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and her predecessor Alex Salmond.

A YouTube account in the name of “Allan Casey” also features videos of the flute band.

A minute of a meeting of the Dennistoun Community Council in June stated that Casey attended on behalf of McKee and McLaughlin.

The SNP has long avoided commenting on Northern Ireland and has not taken a position on whether it should be part of Britain.

A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: "It is not acceptable for MSPs to employ people who support terrorists. This is highly embarrassing for the SNP - a party which is never slow to complain about standards in opponents. People who voted for the SNP in this area will expect swift action to be taken."

SHOULD HAVE BEEN TEA AND SYMPATHY - Its not what you know but who you know, who you are pals with and who you are employed by!

Not tea and popcorn at Provan SNP's AGM where recently appointed friends of their MP tried to organise a coup.

Anne McLaughlin failed to have her fiancee Graham Campbell elected Political Education Officer. Mary McCabe got it with a resounding vote.

Joe Brady was elected Convener with Allan Casey Vice - Convener. Both are employed by the MP.

This is the ugly face of politics where foot soldiers who chapped doors and held open-air stalls to elect three MP's and three MSP's are forced to take a back seat.

The picture clearly shows the MP with her fiancee snapping their supporters.

I am reassured however the activists have not gone away, despite the problems in this branch, having resurrected Yes Provan to push for Scottish Independence.

A Scottish Political Fable continues : Animal Farm 2 - Its not what you know, but who you know.

This post follows from my previous one on the same subject which can be accessed using this link...
 http://thefreescott.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/a-scottish-political-fable-animal-farm.html

The story continues in my ex political party branch. I do wish I had never joined this party, or at least this branch, as it has made my opinion of politicians even lower than they were ever before.

Fred, the one filled with bile and hatred for anyone who says something which he doesn't like, who I mentioned in my previous post is a good friend of the Branch Leader who also happens to be the MP. Therefore Fred has considerable support for high quarters for his antics which have in effect ruined the branch. So many activists have now resigned and left that I can't count them. Some who have not yet left are actively considering this. And I can't say I am surprised.

The person I called Seamus has now resigned his position on the branch committee. Having been hounded and bullied for a facebook thread which was far more innocent than many that were doing the accusing had written themselves. He in my opinion was the best head this branch never had and will never get the chance to have now ever again.

Fred's cohort Arthur who was far more vitriolic at the meeting in question, has been promoted and now works for the MP/ Branch Leader and also the new MSP. This is his reward for being a thug, a bully and a yes man. He has no experience or qualifications for these posts apart from being a good friend of the MP/ Branch Leader.

Had the minutes of the meeting where the bullying actually took place actually reflected what occured it would have been impossible for Arthur to get these positions. Indeed in my opinion Seamus could have made it a police matter as if it had happened in a public place outside in full view there is no way they would have not been involved.

Arthur all ready had a job. Therefore both the MP/ Branch Leader, and the MSP (no doubt on the MPs instruction) have placed Arthur in jobs which could be more effectively done by another far more qualified person with relevant experience on the basis of his friendship with the MP/ Branch Leader.

This is called cronyism or nepotism. The definition of these terms is below.

'the practice among those with power or influence of favouring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.'

This also means fully qualified people who are currently unemployed in the branch area who would better at the jobs that Arthur is now being paid for have not had the chance to even apply for them.

I am disgusted and enraged, but can do nothing but take my bile and anger out in this blog.

It is pointless saying anything at meetings even if I now went to them, as the minutes reflect what the Branch Leader/ MP wants them to reflect and not what actually happens. Therefore I shall save my breath.

Supplied by a contributor who wishes to remain anonymous. I have no idea which party or which branch is talked about in this post. In Scotland however if there is an MP involved the party involved is unlikely to be only 1, and the contributor is aware that this page is for those that believe in Scottish Independence.