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Impartial appointment?

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Published Date: 14 July 2008
The appointment of former Labour MSP, Alasdair Morrison, as chair of MG Alba, formerly the Gaelic Media Service, beggars belief ("Media appointment branded cronyism", 10 July). This role should clearly be politically impartial, so it is scarcely credible Mr Morrison can take up this posting, a position approved by the UK Government's Scottish Secretary, Des Browne. To add insult to injury, while the Scottish Government has given £12.4 million to the organisation, it has no sc
One hopes that, political storm aside, the channel works well and becomes a channel we can all be proud of.

ALEX ORR

Bryson Road

Edinburgh

The appointment by Westminster of Alasdair Morrison as head of the BBC's Gaelic Media Service highlights yet another anomaly of devolution as it is the Scottish Parliament which funds the BBC's Gaelic programmes by £12.4 million but has no powers of scrutiny over the organisation, while Des Browne appoints a former Labour politician to the gravy train.

CALUM STEWART

Montague Street

Edinburgh



Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 13 July 2008 8:37 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Isonomia,

Lenzie 14/07/2008 06:21:37
It is time the BBC was removed from political control by westminster and made into an organisation owned and run by the viewers who pay the licence fee.

It should not be government who appoints such people but the licence payer!
2

Martinh,

14/07/2008 08:52:47
The following is taken from today's Stornoway gazette.

Following an independent appointment and selection process, Alasdair Morrison has been appointed as Chairman of MG ALBA (the new name for the Gaelic Media Service).
The appointment was approved by the Secretary of State for Scotland and takes effect from July 2008 for a period of four years.

Mr Morrison is Director of UBC Group Ltd, Harris Tweed Hebrides Llp.

From 1999-2007 he was the Labour MSP for the Western Isles in the Scottish Parliament and was deputy minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning from 1999-2001.

His early career was as a radio and television journalist with the BBC.

David Cairns, Minister of State at the Scotland Office said: "For the last three years I have been closely involved in the development of a dedicated Gaelic Digital TV station which is now closer than ever, so I know how important this position is.

"The advent of this service heralds an exciting time for the Gaelic language and for Gaelic speakers throughout Scotland and beyond.

"I would like to thank Neil Fraser for his energy and vision in making this possible and I look forward to working with Alasdair Morrison and the whole of the GMS to help deliver it."

Alasdair Morrison said: "I am looking forward to working constructively with my fellow board members, our partners the BBC, and everyone across the industry to ensure that Gaelic broadcasting services are of a standard appropriate for this age".

The salient points are:

1. The appointment was conducted independently, and only subsequently approved by Des Browne, who had no influence whatsoever in the selection procedure.

2. His c.v. both as a former MSP in a gaelic speaking area (Western Isles) with an involvement in lifelong learning and as a former journalist with the BBC are surely excellent criteria for the appointment, and do not smack of cronyism.

Alex Orr of the SNP is scraping the barrel bottom to find a Westminster plot a
3

Martinh,

14/07/2008 08:55:21
Alex Orr of the SNP is scraping the barrel bottom to find a Westminster plot attached to this independent appointment.
4

Guga II,

Rockall 14/07/2008 11:19:22
#2. It is obvious that this appointment smacks of New Labour Sleaze and Corruption Party cronyism.

In any event, such an appointment should have been within the purview of the Scottish government, not that remnant of colonialism, the Scottish Office. Nor should the part-time colonial governor, Des Browne, be allowed to interfere in Scottish affairs.
5

Martinh,

14/07/2008 11:58:37
#4. You obviously haven't read the newspaper article above. Are you implying that the Scottish Government would have overruled an independent appointment just because the appointee was a former Labour MSP? Now that would be political corruption. If you try hard you might actually come to the conclusion that Alasdair Morrison was the strongest candidate for the job and time will tell if he is doing it well.
6

Guga II,

Rockall 14/07/2008 17:10:15
#5. I know Alasdair Morrison, our former MSP. He did nothing for the Western Isles, hence he was booted out. Then Labour cronyism came to the rescue.
7

Seannair,

Oban 15/07/2008 00:46:38
Having lost what was at one time considered a safe Labour seat Morrison, a failed junior minister, seems able to rely upon the well known network of the broadcasting and print media for the appointment to this sinecure.He would certainly not be there on past record.
Look around you to where failed and washed up Labour politicians end up.

Where is Calum Macdonald? Where is Lord Robertson? Where is Brian Wilson? What will happen to Jack McConnell? What is Sam Galbraith doing? Where did Lord Watson go? Is Helen Liddell still in Australia?
Will Magret Curran go to the Lords?

When will the full story of David Marshall emerge from the shadows?
8

radge dug,

22/07/2008 09:30:43
#6 Me too. Morrison was USELESS as an MSP. Even Scottish Labour dumped him as 'minister' as he couldn't even be bothered to answer minister's questions. His Eileanan Siar constituents couldn't get replies from he either. He also campaigned against the Gaelic act. Amadan a chac.

 

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