SNP denies electioneering at taxpayers' expense

Published on Thursday 6 August 2009 21:45

A ROW has erupted over claims that the Scottish Government was "electioneering" at taxpayers' expense by holding a public meeting on independence in the Glasgow constituency that is set for a crucial by-election.

The Labour Party has asked Scotland's most senior civil servant to investigate why the SNP government is holding the event in Glasgow North East, the seat vacated by Michael Martin, the former Commons Speaker.

Patricia Ferguson, the Labour MSP for Maryhill, has written to Sir John Elvidge after it emerged the Cabinet's summer roadshow is travelling to the constituency and inviting the public to a meeting under the banner of the "National Conversation" – the forum the SNP has set up to discuss constitutional change.

Ms Ferguson said: "The SNP are caught red-handed abusing taxpayers' money to campaign in the by-election."

Labour's claims were denied by Alex Salmond's spokesman, who said arrangements for the event, at the Molendinar Community Centre on 1 September, had been in place before Mr Martin resigned his seat.