Critics tell MS chief to quit over 'Eggs Factor'

CALLS have been made for the resignation of the head of the multiple sclerosis charity MS Society Scotland over his handling of the closure of the charity's respite centre.

The demand for David McNiven to quit was made after he called in police when hecklers threw an egg at him during a meeting with residents at the Leuchie House respite centre in East Lothian.

Campaign supporter Fraser Tolmie, of Haddington, led calls for changes at the top of the organisation, saying: "The whole closure of Leuchie House has been handled terribly and really it is about time David McNiven realised that he has not handled the situation professionally.

"As the Scottish director of the MS Society he does not appear to be acting in the best interests of those with MS. I call upon his resignation as the Scottish director of the MS Society."

In online discussions the situation is being jokingly referred to as the "Eggs Factor". The comments came in the wake of an incident last week when Mr McNiven called the police after an egg was thrown at him by a carer during a meeting with MS sufferers at Leuchie House near North Berwick to discuss future respite provision after it closes next month.

It was revealed last night that Mr McNiven had now made an official complaint to police alleging assault.

The man who is said to have thrown the egg, Chris Carton, 65, yesterday supported the call for Mr McNiven's resignation but said that real change would only come if the MS Society's chief executive, Simon Gillespie, was also to leave the charity.

Mr Carton, from Earls Colne, Essex, whose wife Linda, 61, is wheelchair-bound with progressive MS, said: "The whole lot should go and new people should be brought in.

"How can they, when a society of 30,000 people have signed a petition against its closure, not stop and think of ways to keep Leuchie House open?"

The Save Leuchie campaign organisers said yesterday that while it was not their aim to see Mr McNiven resign, they understood people's feelings.

"We fully understand the utter frustration felt by those who are calling for his resignation now.

"The last five months have been immensely stressful for many Leuchie guests with severe MS and their carers and families, as they feel abandoned by the very society which is supposed to look after them."

A spokesman for MS Society Scotland said: "At the annual general meeting in September, our members voted in favour of the society's new direction for respite care and we are now working hard to implement those plans.

"The information pack, available on our website, details services currently available across Scotland and was prepared as part of our ongoing support for those guests who have used Leuchie.

"It will also benefit many people affected by MS who have not previously been able to use the centre."