McLeish to face down calls for his resignation Â
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Henry McLeish, Scotland's embattled First Minister, will today face the toughest test of his political career when he attempts to face down calls for his resignation.
With the support of his backbench MSPs and Liberal Democrat coalition partners, Mr McLeish is certain to win a no-confidence debate in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon, but he will have to give the most polished performance of his career if he is to salvage his credibility among the electorate.
His speech, delivered in front of a live television and radio audience and MSPs, will have to strike a balance between contrition and defiance of the resignation call if he is to reassert himself. For the Tories, who instigated today's 90-minute debate, the issues are simple.
Mr McLeish is accused of breaking parliamentary rules when, as MP for Fife, he sublet part of his constituency office in Glenrothes while claiming his full expenses entitlement from Westminster. He has also been found to have let the address of his publicly funded office to be used on party-political literature.
After several months of denials Mr McLeish was finally forced to admit on Tuesday that he had received more than £36,000 from subletting his constituency offices while a sitting Westminster MP for Fife.
A total of five different companies were identified as having paid to rent part of the office over a 14-year period.
Mr McLeish claimed all the money raised from the sub-lettings – which over the entire period amounted to less than 6 per cent of total office spending – went to help with running costs, such as furniture, photocopying, stationery and phone calls. He was adamant there was no personal gain to him or the Labour Party and that it was an "honest mistake" resulting from a "muddle rather than a fiddle".
But the Scots Tory leader, David McLetchie, will today argue that this was not a single error but one made repeatedly over 14 years in flagrant abuse of strict parliamentary rules.
The Tory motion accuses Mr McLeish of failing to observe the spirit of principles of openness and accountability, voices "profound concern" at what it calls his belated disclosure of the details, and calls for him to pay back in full the £36,122 received in rental income.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments