Blogged down in scandal, SNP media chiefs turn to the expert for help

Published on Monday 30 November 2009 21:54

THE SNP has invited one of Scotland's leading bloggers to host talks on how to get a grip on its increasingly negative profile on the web, The Scotsman has learned.

Jeff Breslin, author of the SNP Tactical Voting website and a contributor to The Scotsman's Steamie, has revealed that he is to meet members of the party's media team this week to discuss blogging.

Last night the party officially denied the meeting, but it is known that officials are concerned about the image of the SNP portrayed by "cybernats" – anonymous bloggers – after it was engulfed in scandal over a smear campaign at the weekend.

It was revealed that Mark MacLachlan, who until Thursday was constitution minister Mike Russell's office manager, had been running a blog attacking members of other political parties and the media. Mr MacLachlan made false allegations and used abusive language to attack members of opposition parties.

He is now facing legal action from a number of politicians.

That scandal followed the unmasking of another cybernat, architect Bruce Newlands, who used the name Wardog, and quit his job at Robert Gordon University after he called Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy "a c***" on his blog.

Over the weekend his former boss Mr Russell and the SNP denied any knowledge of Mr MacLachlan's activities.

However, it has emerged from Mr Breslin's blog that Mr MacLachlan attended a bloggers' breakfast at the SNP's spring conference. The SNP said it knew nothing of the event even though Osama Saeed, a close confidante of First Minister Alex Salmond, was also present.

The revelation has renewed calls for an inquiry into whether more SNP staff are running anonymous attack blogs.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott MSP said: "This blows apart the pathetic excuses we've had from Michael Russell and explains the complete silence from Alex Salmond. We all deserve to know how many more cybernats pouring out abuse work in SNP offices and if any of them are paid for by the taxpayer."

Labour MSP John Park added: "It is now hard to believe that the SNP knew nothing of this individual's blogging activities. There would be no other reason to invite him to their bloggers' breakfast.

"Given that Mr Russell stopped blogging himself in 2007, the SNP must clarify who writes his constituency blog, which was being updated until recently.

"Alex Salmond must be honest and say how many other SNP aides funded by the taxpayer publish blogs making obscene and false allegations."

However, Mr Breslin has told The Scotsman that the bloggers' breakfast was an unofficial meeting arranged by him.

On his meeting with members of the SNP media team, he said: "I'm due to meet with some of the press team this week to have some probably overdue chat on the subject."

He made it clear that he would like the party have a more co-ordinated web and blogging strategy, such as the ones used by parties in London.

"I've run what I like to think is a fairly decent SNP blog for nearly three years and haven't heard a peep from the press team except being ordered to take a post or two down."

However, he was not optimistic about the outcome. "I don't envisage an SNP Home or Nationalist List evolving from the discussion but it'll be good to hear what the genuine media players within the party think about new media, blogs and the best way forward," he said.

"I daresay they'd rather we just hung up our keyboards and left the debate to them but that's not feasible as a long-term strategy."