GOLDIE MUST ANNOUNCE IMMEDIATE INQUIRY INTO CANDIDATE’S RESIGNATION

For immediate use: Wednesday 6th October 2010

Attn: NEWSDESKS
      POLITICAL CORRESPONDENTS

PARTY OFFICIALS STILL DENYING ANTI-SCOTTISH REMARKS THAT CAUSED TIEFENBRUN TO QUIT

Glasgow SNP MSP, Bob Doris, is calling on the Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie to announce an immediate party inquiry at the Tory conference today into the circumstances surrounding the resignation of Ivor Tiefenbrun, the former Tory candidate for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn.

Yesterday (Tuesday) it was reported in the Scotsman that Mr Tiefenbrun had said "It's only because Scots are so thick” that they “swallowed” the idea Margaret Thatcher was bad for Scotland. Yet senior Scottish Tory officials denied he used these words and did not hold these views. However, only this morning Mr Tiefenbrun has resigned as a candidate, whilst there is no indication of the Tories taking any action against the Scotsman, such as a referral to the Press Complaints Commission.

Mr Doris said:

“That Mr Tiefenbrun has resigned is the strongest possible indication that he did make these outrageous, anti-Scottish remarks, and there is no suggestion that the Tories are referring the matter to the Press Complaints Commission. Yet still, Annabel Goldie’s senior aides are denying that he said Scots were ‘thick’.

“The only satisfactory response from Annabel Goldie to this deeply damaging situation – involving her own senior media officials, as well as a now former candidate – is for her to announce that she will convene an immediate party inquiry into all of the circumstances of the issue. Unless she does that, Tory credibility in Scotland will be at an absolute and all-time low.

“Mr Tiefenbrun has form for making outrageous remarks concerning Scotland and the Scottish Parliament – in 1999 he suggested MSPs could help Scottish business by committing ‘mass suicide’. Then we have the matter of the Tories’ Westminster candidate in North Ayrshire being allowed to continue standing after he had praised the former leader of white supremacist Rhodesia.

“Annabel Goldie cannot remain silent on the chaos, confusion, and the anti-Scottish insults which this sorry affair involves – and which also calls into question her party’s candidate selection system. She must announce an immediate party inquiry at Birmingham today.”

ENDS