Party-switch QC was not paid-up Labour member

Published on Tuesday 28 April 2009 22:59

THE QC who claimed he was switching his support from Lab-our to Tories was not a fee-paying party member when he made his comments, it has emerged.

Leading Labour members have dismissed the declaration by Paul McBride, who said he was switching his lifelong support for Labour to the Conservatives because David Cameron's party was the only one serious about saving the legal system.

Labour Lothians MSP Lord George Foulkes said: "Strangely, I cannot recall ever seeing a Paul McBride at any Labour Party event over the past two decades, and neither can the many other members I have spoken to.

"To allay my suspicion, perhaps Mr McBride could confirm which constituency party he is resigning from."

Last night, Mr McBride said: "I was a member (of the Labour Party] during the 1990s and supported the party from my youth.

"I let my membership slip in terms of paying fees but attended almost all of the Scottish Labour Party fund-raising events right through the Blair era to the bitter end.

"I was a Labour supporter for more than 30 years."