14 November 2006

The mafia takes greater control

The changes in the Scottish Cabinet, following the departure of Mr Peacock (Highlands and Islands), rather reinforce the dependence of the First Minister on his West of Scotland labour colleagues. The BBC reports:
Hugh Henry is to succeed Peter Peacock as education minister, the Scottish Executive has confirmed.
Mr Peacock, 54, resigned on health grounds after receiving medical advice for a condition akin to a mild stroke. He remains a Highlands and Islands MSP.
Mr Henry, who has been deputy justice minister for the past four years, is replaced by Johann Lamont.
Labour MSP Des McNulty gets her job as deputy communities minister, a post he was sacked from three years ago.
Mr McConnell (Motherwell and Wishaw) will now add Mr Henry (Paisley South) to his reliable cabinet allies, Messrs Kerr (East Kilbride), Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley), McCabe (Hamilton South), Curran (West of Scotland list) and Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill). I really don't know how Mr Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) has survived so long.

The new addition to the Ministerial roster, albeit at sub-cabinet level, Mr McNulty, is of course MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie.

Has the First Minister missed an opportunity to elevate a new fresh face to cabinet? Someone with the imagination to break out of the comfort zone? Looking at the ranks of junior labour ministers, I rather doubt it: Mr McConnell long ago cleared out of the Executive anyone capable of independent thought.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Curran is a Glasgow politician, Baillieston I think, not on West of Scotland list.

Hugh Henry seems quite a competant minister but Des McNulty isn't exactly an inspiring choice, he seems a bit bonkers in fact and I can't see Lamont taking on the vested interests in the legal profession very successfully.

Pauline McNeill must've been disapointed not to get a phonecall for the junior justice job, given that she is always being wheeled out to defend Cathy Jamieson and is stuck trying to sort out the Executive's mess in the McKie inquiry. Paul Martin crosses the mind too, although that may just be because it is becoming difficult to find Labour backbenchers who haven't had a go yet...

Dave said...

My mistake. Ms Curran is of course the member for Glasgow Baillieston.