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SNP says cash-for-access claims are complete nonsense

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Published Date: 29 June 2009
THE SNP has been forced to deny claims that it is offering access to ministers for cash.
It has been claimed businesses have been told that if they pay £1,000 to the party for the autumn conference in Inverness they will be able to meet ministers and possibly influence Scottish Government policy.

The claim appears to undermine the SNP's image of standing up for clean politics by leading the way on the cash for honours scandal when Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil reported the UK Labour Government to the police.

Mr MacNeil has also come under fire for his expenses claims after it emerged he received £1,700 for fencing around his property.

An SNP spokesman last night described the cash-for-access allegations as "complete nonsense".

"This is the normal business of parties charging organisations for stalls at a conference," he said.

However, Labour MP Gordon Banks said: "The SNP are actually selling access to their government ministers. It is an outrage and would make a banana republic blush."





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  • Last Updated: 28 June 2009 9:44 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Scottish National Party
 
1

Jerry Springer,

28/06/2009 23:13:15
Oh Dear.

Cash for Access?

Who would have believed it?

Nothing short of a police enquiry into the SNP's activities will do here.
2

,

28/06/2009 23:46:58
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
3

Vivas,

Edinburgh 29/06/2009 00:24:20
No name to the article.

Maddox hiding beyond anonymity, or is one of the janitorial staff moonlighting as a staffer ?
4

Gregor Addison,

Glasgow 29/06/2009 01:16:53
Why is there no name to this story? That seems very peculiar to me. It's not an editorial piece is it? It really is a silly kind of story - the "forced to deny" kind of story that tries to suggest the denial is a symptom of guilt. What a lot of rubbish. Gutter journalism.
5

Barney Thomson,

Reading 29/06/2009 01:57:22
#1
Are the police allowed to make enquiries into blatant libels like this article?

A grand is cheap compared to other conferences.
6

Castaway™ ,

29/06/2009 02:38:58
The political party conferences offer a chance for UK companies to get some deals behind the scenes.

On the Tuesday of the Labour conference, corporate chairmen and chief executives will be flown to Manchester, courtesy of the party, to attend Tony Blair's speech. In the evening many will linger for the lavish fundraiser dinner, where senior business people will get the chance to voice their concerns directly to the prime minister, the chancellor and other cabinet ministers. Big business knows that by flaunting its presence at party conferences and spending large sums of money, it will get an extremely sympathetic hearing

For big business, a conference is a place to see and be seen by the politicians that matter. MPs are readily accessible as they wander around the conference floor.

The annual conference is a massive money-spinner for the Labour Party. This year more than ever, with party finances at rock bottom, it matters very much that Labour makes a giant profit. The conference organisers will make certain that big donors get treated well. In practice, that means assuring them the access they need.

'Labour always presses us into taking a conference stall,' says one corporate lobbyist who has been well rewarded by Labour. 'So we go. They charge a huge fee for the stalls, so this is our way of funding the party without appearing to do so.'
http://tinyurl.com/nux6rw :::01/09/2006
7

Fletty73,

Stirling 29/06/2009 02:50:35

Gordon Banks said " Elvis came down in an UFO and ate my Hamster".

Quality journalism.
8

Castaway™ ,

29/06/2009 03:16:59
Enron even gave money to New Labour by hiring stalls at the Labour Party conference. The Labour Party Conference has now become the traditional place that big business pass money back to New Labour for favours rendered. New Labour ministers prostrate themselves at corporate beanos throughout the event.http://tinyurl.com/mm5r82 :::October 1st, 2004
9

donald,

glasgow 29/06/2009 05:45:05
The "Scotsman" is about as Scottish as Ben Dover House
10

,

29/06/2009 07:18:51
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
11

Roy,

29/06/2009 07:24:37
What, no comment from Lord Foulkes? Hootsman is slipping.
12

,

29/06/2009 07:56:15
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
13

Willie Mor,

29/06/2009 09:18:52
Who in the Scotsman is writing this tosh that has no
journalist attributed to the piece.

C'mon Scotsman, let's have none of this penny dreadful style guff.
14

Marian,

29/06/2009 09:21:50
Smearing thei SNP may please New Labour's tribal followers but the vast majority of Scots are completely turned off by it.

New Labour and their media acolytes should note that voters don't want Yah-boo politics - they want Scotland to be led by capable honest politicians who will properly and honestly debate about the present state of Scotland and its constitutional future.
15

Rasco,

29/06/2009 10:00:51
OFF TOPIC.
Why no report in this paper about Greenland getting more self Government from Denmark and at least half of the oil revenues much more than Calman wants Scotland to have,check out pww.org,have heard that the Post Office part sell off might be delayed is this a u-turn by Maggie,can't seem to comment on the Foulkes story.
16

Miss H,

29/06/2009 10:27:57

Cash for access scandal – more!

I can reveal that I too get to go to SNP Conference and meet government ministers and influence policy – in fact not only do I get to influence policy, I get to vote on it.

And all for under 50 quid – delegate fee and membership.

17

John S,

29/06/2009 11:52:49
Now 29 June 2009 Scotsman
"This is the normal business of parties charging organisations for stalls at a conference," he said-SNP autumn conference
Then 02 September 2007 Scotsman
'This is an opportunity to set out your stall for politicians'-SNP annual conference.http://tinyurl.com/msqn6d
18

frank mcbride,

29/06/2009 12:13:17
However, Labour MP Gordon Banks said: "The SNP are actually selling access to their government ministers. It is an outrage and would make a banana republic blush."

This is a lie and, as such, defamation (libel).

Not only is Mr. Banks guilty but, being complicit in its dissemination, so is "The Scotsman".
19

DialMforMurdoX,

29/06/2009 12:35:26
#11 Family man, I've forwarded your comments to Donald MacDonald for his take on your allegations. Presumably he'll contact you through his legal team and the Scotsman.com
20

Arfur,

29/06/2009 12:51:28
No wonder there is no name on this tosh - they would be up in court for talking boll acks.
21

Sgian Achlais,

29/06/2009 12:52:11
Big Donors to the Labour party have been awarded with knighthoods for over a decade.

Energy firms with friends and family contacts awarded contracts worth billions.

Arms firms awarded with Wars and defence contracts

Meanwhile this rag thinks that big business are going to pay £1000 to bribe them into making policy.

===================

If a business wanted to buy influence we all know which two parties sell influence and have been proved in court to do so in both chambers.

Laughable Story. No names. But we know where the fax came from.

Pathetic little Labour hacks.
22

Observer,,

Glasgow 29/06/2009 13:02:14
Familyman I hope you can back that up with facts. Otherwise it's defamation.
23

frank mcbride,

lusitania 29/06/2009 13:29:17
#23, Observer.

Familyman is Gordon Banks!!!!!!
24

g danton,

29/06/2009 17:38:35
i see that familymans comment has been removed - fast working lawyers? this came out of a quick web search looking for donald macdonald and snp donation:
http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.1997287.0.0.php
25

Electric Hermit,

29/06/2009 20:08:14
This is blatant anti-Scottish propaganda from the Sowhatsman. Now that it is clearly no longer a newspaper, WTF is it?

26

Electric Hermit,

29/06/2009 20:10:11
Come out! Come out! Maddox! We can see you!
27

Electric Hermit,

29/06/2009 20:21:28
19
frank mcbride

"Not only is Mr. Banks guilty but, being complicit in its dissemination, so is "The Scotsman"."

You are correct. This is clearly defamatory and actionable. I know there are arguments against pursuing something like this. But I am increasingly persuaded that the SNP should take these lying a-holes to court.

 

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