Jack McConnell

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Background

Jack McConnell is the third First Minister in the devolved Scotland. He is widely known as a 'machine' politician, having emerged from the 'Lanarkshire mafia'.[1]

Lobbygate

Mcconnellcttee150.jpg
McConnell gives evidence
at the lobbygate inquiry

McConnell was centrally involved in the first lobbying scandal of the Scottish Parliament known as 'Lobbygate'. A former General Secretary of the Labour Party in Scotland, McConnell was recruited to a lobbying firm which was a joint venture between Beattie Media and Scottish law firm Maclay Murray & Spens, called Public Affairs Europe Ltd.[2]

Pro-Nuke

McConnell has launched an internal Labour party consultation on whether new nuclear power stations can be built in Scotland, but it is widely predicted that if Blair gives the green light for nuclear, Scotland's Labour party will follow suit.

Scotland's First Minister is said to be "paving the way for a Scottish Labour U-turn which would remove its opposition to new nuclear power stations being built in Scotland." [3]


Resources

David Miller 'Corporate power, institutional corruption:endemic lobbying means corporations control too much of Scotland' Spinwatch, September/October 2003.


References