GLASGOW lawyer Mike Dailly has quit the SNP’s Social Justice Commission branding it “useless”.
The principal solicitor at the community controlled Govan Law Centre – and a long term Labour supporter who switched to backing independence in 2017 – was one of the key signings for the flagship body which is supposed to show how poverty can be tackled in an independent Scotland.
In a tweet on Friday night, Dailly said: “I am resigning from @theSNP Social Justice Commission forthwith. My professional life has been about changing lives and using the law to tackle barriers to achieve fairness.
“The First Minister appointed me this body but it is useless. I cannot be associated with this.”
Yesterday morning, he added: “If you are going to have a think tank. It needs to think. Have space, time and proper support to enable that.”
However, a source close to the Social Justice Commission said Dailly had only made one of the group’s meetings.
“We’re really sad that Mike decided to leave.
“We know obviously that people have different talents, and different time that they’re able to contribute and unfortunately Mike was only able to make along to one of the meetings so he maybe wasn’t able to see the full picture of everything that we were doing and all the work that was going on – a lot of hard work that was going in and a lot of really good ideas that are coming forward.”
READ MORE: Gail Ross's decision to quit should spark rethink at Holyrood
The source added: “So I’m really sad because Mike has obviously got an immense amount of experience, and would have had a lot to contribute. So it’s a great shame that he’s decided to step back. But hopefully over time he will see the work that we do, and he’ll have a better understanding and recognition when we’re able to produce some substantial work.”
Dailly’s resignation is a blow for the body which has been tasked with producing a report showing how independence from the UK could reduce poverty and inequality in Scotland in time for an autumn 2020 referendum campaign.
Shona Robison, who chairs the commission, thanked Dailly for his work: “The fact that so many powers in this area remain in the hands of the Tory UK Government is one of the strongest arguments for independence.
“The commission continues to engage with a wide range of people and organisations across Scotland to pursue, with urgency, solutions that will create a fairer society where every individual has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
“We thank Mike for his work on the commission.”
Sturgeon announced the forming of the body at the SNP spring conference last year, telling delegates the commission would show how the proceeds of economic growth under independence could be shared “much more fairly”.
The new group was seen as an attempt to rebut some of the criticism of Andrew Wilson’s Growth Commission report.
Both political opponents – and a fair number of party members – had attacked his calls for tighter spending controls to bring down the deficit after independence.
READ MORE: Solicitor Mike Dailly quits SNP Social Justice Commission
Other members of the commission include retired Scottish chief medical officer Professor Sir Harry Burns, activist Chelsea Cameron, and former convener of the Scottish Women’s Budget Group Dr Angela O’Hagan.
Dailly was unavailable for comment.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel