A LEAKED dossier about anti-semitism and its handling within the Labour party has revealed how party officials plotted to stop "raging Trots" from holding senior positions in Scotland.
The 860-page document also shows that Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard was blocked when trying to escalate a complaint of anti-semitism about Dundee Councillor George McIrvine.
As reported by The National's sister paper The Herald, the document states that senior members of the party's governance and legal unit (GLU) had talked about trying to stop "trots" from being selected in a Scottish seat, and described former Scottish Labour deputy and current Fife MSP Alex Rowley as a "some knobber" who had "done some trot nominating himself".
The remarks were made in a conversation between the party's former head of the GLU John Stolliday, and Anna Wright, one of the party's press officers. Stolliday is now working for trade union Unison, in the member liaison department.
A conversation between the two party employees, from November 3 2014, is documented as follows:
John Stolliday: "We're in special selections period now, but they're going to call a special org sub to pretend we're doing this in a more open way ... there is literally no candidate & while they need someone good to come forward they're desperate to stop the Scotland trots from using it to increase power base ... it's up for grabs so if you have any friends who would be good get them to go for it"
Anna Wright: "And in Edinburgh No one in the frame?
"Okay, I might subtly suggest to one person in particular"
John Stolliday: "Literally no one - they're trying to stop some of Johann [Lamont]'s people by the sound of it & want someone good who can keep the seat for ages
"Plus they're all worried about Gordon's seat - they want to do an AWS[All women shortlist] there but GB [Gordon Brown] has apparently kicked off & told them they can't - he must have someone in mind
Anna Wright: "Aye it'll be some knobber like Alex Rowley
"Who I note has done some trot nominating."
It also reveals that in May 2015 Cameron Scott, Scottish Labour’s then campaign and PR chief suggested “some raging trot” from “the unions” would probably become deputy leader in Scotland.
Leaked conversations contained within the report show hostility towards former leader Jeremy Corbyn and his allies by senior party officials. WhatsApp messages show former director of communciations Seumas Milne being described as "dracula", saying he was "spiteful and evil", while Corbyn's former chief of staff Karie Murphy is described as "medusa" and a "b***h face cow" that would “make a good dartboard”.
The report was intended to be submitted as an annexe to the Equality and Human Rights Committee (EHRC)'s investigation into anti-semitism within the party.
However, it is now not going to be submitted, following reported interventions from the party's lawyers.
When asked why the report was now not being submitted to the EHRC, a Labour spokesman told The Herald: “The party has submitted extensive information to the EHRC and responded to questions and requests for further information, none of which included this document."
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