The Not Given Interview from Jim Devine

At the end of their joint statement moments after the charges against them were announced the three Labour MPs Jim Devine, Elliot Morley and David Chaytor said they would not be available for media interviews.

However, that must mean that Devine's interviews with Sky News and the BBC didn't happen. So people didn't hear this

"I'm absolutely distraught and astonished at the decision that has been taken today. It is noticeable that there's no reference to shelving, there's no reference to mileage ... and some two new charges have been brought, both of which ... I will explain in court.

"I have just learnt two minutes ago what the allegation is. I think it is bizarre that I have been treated in this way. Tactically I've probably made a mistake because at the very beginning I referred myself to the police. The police have been through every single one of my receipts. In the Legg report yesterday other people have paid money back. If there is a problem – and I don't think there is a problem – why wasn't I given the opportunity to pay back?

"It's striking that the main allegations that were made against me were ones that I referred myself to the police for; they are not the ones that I'm being charged with."

What does strike me is Jim's pointed comment that there was no reference to shelving and no reference to mileage. Is that therefore an admission of guilt on the part of the disgraced Livingston MP? Don't worry I'm sure his Labour replacement as candidate Graeme Morrice will come up with something about Jim having to be in residential streets during the working day clearing this dirt from his name and not on the major locations doing the work for as many of Livingston as possible.

Also see: Still not not-giving interviews, Jim Devine appeared on Channel 4 News this evening, see it courtesy of Rantin Rab.

Edinburgh South Labour Looking for Candidate as Livingston Announce Theirs

On the day that Edinburgh South Labour Party start the hunt for their candidate for a candidate to replace Nigel Griffiths MP, Livingston have announced that Graeme Morrice will be their third candidate in three consecutive Westminster Elections in 5 years. The former council leader will step up to the plate to replace the disgraced Jim Devine who was deselected before the party's 'star committee' over his expenses. He beat fellow councillor John McGinty, community education officer Gordon Connolly and Haackney activist Adenike Abimbola-Akindele to the selection. I don't rule out seeing the latter appear on the Edinburgh South shortlist, it would only be the sixth that I know of.

Meanwhile trade unionist Michael McCann has been unveiled as the Labour candidate in East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, after former defence minister Adam Ingram (whose career had a rather big part in last nights Channel 4 Drama Mo).

Short List for Livingston Labour Candidate Announced

A short list of four to replace disgraced Livingston MP Jim Devine has been announced. Senior Labour Councillor Ian Murray who is understood to have put his name forward is not on the list.

The four are:

• Graeme Morrice former West Lothian Council leader
• John McGinty West Lothian Councillor
• Gordon Connolly community education worker
• Adenike Abimbola-Akindele former House of Commons worker

Morrice is Councillor for Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh to the north east of the constituency. He currently serves on the Local Area Committee, Avoidance of Disputes Committee, Policy and Resources Policy Development and Scrutiny panel and the Joint Consultative Group. He had acted as leader on the Labour controlled Council until the SNP took over as largest party in 2007. In 2007 he was the fourth elected Councillor of four under STV in an area he had represented part of for 20 years.


McGinty is actually one of my local councillors in Bathgate, outwith the Livingston seat, but only just you would say. He serves on the Education Executive Committee, Audit Committee, Local Area Committee, Appeals Committee, Education Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel, Health and Care Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel and the Joint Consultative Group (Teaching Staff).


Connolly is theInternational Partnerships Development Officer with West Lothian Council.

Abimbola-Akindele is the outsider coming from Hackney. She is a school governor and a committee member of Africans for Labour. Looking for that 'safe' Labour seat has already sought selection in Thrurock to replace Andrew Mackinlay only last month. Previously seeking to stand in the next general election for Bury in October, Carlisle, Barrow.

Nat Council Leader Embroiled in Planning Scandal

The leader of West Lothian Council, Peter Johnston is facing calls for his resignation following a police investigation being called to look at a conflict in an £8m planning application involving Action to Save St John's Hospital (ATSSJH) Councillor Gordon Beurskens. The case had been referred to Lothian and Borders police by the chief executive Alex Linkston.

The application faced objections from the local authority's planning officers, but Cllr Beurskens who serves on the council's development control committee also acted as a consultant for the Aftondale application at Whiterigg, Whitburn close to the Robert Wiseman dairy to the east of the town. Similar to the controversial Trump development in Aberdeenshire the application came down to the chairman's casting vote. But unlike Martin Ford who voted for the status quo, my one time opponent in the old Croftmalloch Ward Cllr Jim Dickson used his casting vote to support the application.

It is alleged the Beurskens, who along with his two fellow ATSSJH shore up the SNP's slim majority in the council chamber, threatened to bring down the Nationalist administration if the application was rejected. Apparently there are emails sent from Cllr Beurkens consultancy address threatening the planning officials with just such an outcome. Council leader Peter Johnson was copied in on these emails yet failed to act to prevent this major conflict of interests, or the seemingly threatening and aggressive behaviour of Beurskens.

Johnston who stood for the Livingston Westminster seat for Livingston in Westminster and Holyrood elections in the past has been accused by the Labour group leader Graeme Morrice as being 'complicit' in the 'alleged wrongdoings' and is calling for the resignation of the council leader. The area's MSP Mary Mulligan has said she hopes that:

"alongside the Police inquiry there will be a full investigation into exactly
what happened in this case and that all papers are released."

Also stated that concern regarding the development's impact on employment at Wisemans was a major issue for her objections to the application.

Johnson has denied any indication of support for the application but also has stated that he thinks Cllr Beurskens will be exonerated through this investigation. One does have to wonder whether that is a thought based on hope over evidence but only time will reveal that answer.