Browne forced to defend aide after e-mail leaked

Published on Sunday 20 January 2008 21:01

DES Browne was yesterday forced to defend a political aide accused by the Nationalists of showing "contempt for the Scottish people".

The Scottish Secretary intervened after the SNP seized on an e-mail written by John McTernan – now a special adviser to Mr Browne at the Scotland Office – making unfavourable comparisons between Scotland and Sweden.

In the e-mail, sent to Labour MSP Karen Gillon in 2002, Mr McTernan said: "If you've not been to Sweden before I think you'll really like it – it's the country Scotland would be if it was not narrow, Presbyterian, racist, etc etc. Social democracy in action."

Yesterday Mr Browne said the e-mail, written while Mr McTernan was working for the Scottish Arts Council, had been taken out of context. It was of "no relevance to Mr McTernan's current job" as his senior special adviser.

Mr Browne added: "It is widely recognised that John makes a valued contribution to the Scotland Office team, which remains firmly focused on working in the interests of the people of Scotland."

However, Alex Salmond, the First Minister, yesterday questioned whether Mr McTernan should keep his job.

Mr Salmond said: "It's a remarkable insight into the attitudes of the special adviser that London put in charge of Labour's (Holyrood] election campaign last year. It shows why Labour lost the election, they seem to have developed a unique contempt for the Scottish people."