MSP Resigns membership of SNP

Thursday 2nd May 2002
Glasgow list MSP Dorothy-Grace Elder today dramatically resigned from the SNP citing leadership bullies who wished to force her off cross-party health committee. Ms Elder, who has fought for the rights of chronic pain sufferers in the group hit the headlines recently when the website she set up to hear from chronic pain sufferers received an amazing 500,000 hits.

Dorothy-Grace Elder MSP
Dorothy-Grace Elder

"SNP activists in the wider community are being let down by some of the stupid, arrogant and bullying behaviour in Edinburgh.

"A number of SNP MSPs including myself have been subjected to regular undermining since we entered the SNP parliamentary group three years ago."

In a 15 page letter of resignation, Ms Elder blamed her decision on the 'bullying' of the SNP leadership in attempting to oust her from the cross-party committee to allow Aberdeen MSP Brian Adam to take her place . She was particularly scathing about certain of the front bench SNP MSPs whom she described as 'strutting around like Hyacinth Bucket.'

Hyacinth Bucket (It's Boo-kay!)
Hyacinth Bucket - Alleged to be an inspiration to certain as yet unnamed front bench members of the SNP MSPs.

In a bizarre twist on a day which is sure to be filled with embarrassment for him, SNP Leader John Swinney MSP demanded that Dorothy-Grace resign from the Scottish Parliament - a request Ms Elder quite rightly has no intention of complying with.

Many people will be contrasting the attitude of the SNP to today's news with their handling of the resignation as first minister of Henry McLeish over the Officegate affair. McLeish, who as a Westminster MP failed to declare income from six sublets of his Glenrothes office, later lied to the media and the people of Scotland when making what he called 'a full and frank disclosure', but omitting any mention of the sixth sublet. Tricia Marwick the SNP list MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife has resolutely resisted calls for McLeish's resignation from the Scottish Parliament. This is hardly surprising however, as Tricia Marwick has been reselected by the SNP to stand for the Central Fife constituency seat in which McLeish was victorious against her in the 1999 Scottish Parliamentary elections, and would no doubt prefer to stand against a Labour candidate whose reputation has been seriously damaged.

Despite widespread rumours to the contrary, Dorothy-Grace will not be joining the Scottish Socialist Party, although SSP Convener Tommy Sheridan MSP made it clear that 'People of principle like Dorothy-Grace Elder are always welcome in the SSP.'