Jack McConnell goes on record about controversies in his career

May 13 2009 by Graham Miller, Wishaw Press

IN this, the second part of our interview with former First Minister Jack McConnell, he talks about his decade as the MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw.

Brought up in the rural setting of Arran, followed by living and working in the historic city of Stirling, relocating to Wishaw represented a dramatic change of scenery for Jack McConnell.

He enthused: “I’ve always found Wishaw to be an exceptionally friendly place.

“I had never lived in an industrial area before, but my time here has given me a feel for all the different parts of Scotland.

“We enjoy being here, we have good neighbours and the people are very welcoming.

“My son Mark attended Coltness High School for a year and even now, almost a decade on, his closest friends are people he met there.”

The secondary, however, did find itself in the news for the wrong reasons recently and Mr McConnell admitted: “There are still problems with a small minority of young people in our society. I have tried to move that up the political agenda.

“This behaviour was once seen as petty crime, but it’s not petty to intimidate other young people and older people too.

“Anti-social behaviour and lack of respect is a big, big problem and we were making headway into it, but I’m concerned that this SNP government have taken their foot off the pedal. It is going to take a generation to change and calls for good parenting, school leadership and political leadership.”

The MSP advocates challenging people over their behaviour, but only in the correct circumstances.

He said: “On many occasions I have cautioned young people in the street if they’ve been harassing others.

“Of course, it can be dangerous to do it at the wrong time or in the wrong place but there are plenty of times and places when it is not dangerous and too many people just walk past.

“I despair to see that. It is not just the responsibility of politicians or the police; it is up to everyone.”

When he first moved to the constituency he wanted to improve the education in local schools in the post steel-making age.

He said: “Not only have there been new primary schools built, there have also been significant improvements in the teaching within the schools.

“In addition, Wishaw General Hospital has been a big boost for the area and the new college building is a fantastic symbol of what Motherwell and Wishaw have got to be like in the 21st century.”

At present both town centres look far from shining examples of 21st century symbolism.

Wishaw is in dire need of regeneration and Motherwell was recently voted one of Scotland’s “carbuncles” and was once described by Jack McConnell as a “pigsty”.

He said: “One of the big issues back in 1999 was the two town centres and there has been very little progress on that front.

“I have been criticised for speaking out on it but I still think there needs to be a clearer strategy for Wishaw town centre, with all the local agencies involved in it.

“It’s a serious, serious problem and the council and other bodies need to get their act together, deliver a really good proposal and get into the town centre regeneration fund.

“Wishaw is one of the biggest towns in central Scotland without proper town centre shopping and leisure facilities.”

Mr McConnell sees no conflict between the proposed regeneration of the Ravenscraig site, with its extensive retail and leisure facilities and the much needed improvements to the existing town centres.

He said: “I think they are entirely complimentary. People enjoy driving to these big regional shopping centres for a day out. But they also like having good shops and cafes on their doorstep, without having to travel dozens of miles to get there.

“Wishaw is a big place and there is absolutely no reason why there can’t be a more successful town centre. It has been the single biggest frustration of my time here.”

Of the ongoing saga over Wishaw Health Centre, he said: “My campaign for this goes on. I raise it each time I talk to the health service and also in Parliament.”

The MSP maintains that he has rediscovered his motivation for the job following Labour’s election defeat two years ago and his resignation from his position as party leader.

He said: “There was a period after the election when I wondered if it was the moment to move on.

“However, over the last two years I have had additional time to do more for the constituency and for issues I have always campaigned on, such as my international work.”

Many constituents wonder what exactly the work of an MSP entails and what the fruits of those labours are.

Mr McConnell replied: “Since being out of government I’ve had more time to, for example, go and press the case for improvements to Motherwell train station and health services locally without having to consider the bigger picture, I can just argue for my constituency.”

The international work centres around the controversial special envoy position which he was given last year by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

At the time it had been widely anticipated that Jack McConnell would leave Britain to take up the position of High Commissioner to Malawi – a job he had openly coveted.

This failed to materialise and there was considerable speculation that Labour were running scared of another embarrassing by-election defeat by the nationalists – this time at the hitherto stronghold seat of the former First Minister.

The Motherwell and Wishaw MSP refutes this, stating: “I had started to prepare for the Malawi role and it’s a job which one day I would like to do. I was very conscious that, to go there in January, I would have had to resign as an MSP around last October, which was less than 18 months after the election.

“I know I would have felt guilty about leaving the constituency so soon after retaining the seat.”

But surely the timing of this decision was very convenient, given the huge swing to the SNP last June in Glasgow East.

The former First Minister stated: “We were always going to face that accusation but if it was all about winning a by-election we would have had one after Labour won in Glenrothes last November.”

So having decided to remain as an MSP, Mr McConnell accepted the special envoy position which is not a ministerial role and, therefore, unpaid.

He admitted: “It’s an important role which I am enjoying and feel I’m making a good contribution.”

In November the Wishaw Press canvassed public opinion over Mr McConnell’s willingness to take on this additional role and many felt by doing so he was neglecting his constituency duties.

He responded: “Some parliamentarians concentrate all of their work inside the parliament. Others spend the majority of their time in their constituency. I think as an MSP, you have a national responsibility as well as a local one. Once you see yourself as just a constituency MSP you become less of a parliamentarian.

“Over the last ten years, by accident of history, I’ve been in a trail-blazing position. To become a minister without ever being a backbencher and then First Minister after only two-and-a-half years was unusual.

“I am in a position to be able to use my experience. When Paddy Ashdown stopped being leader of the Liberal Democrats he didn’t just disappear back to Taunton to hold constituency surgeries.

“Instead, he became the UK’s High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina because he had proven leadership experience.

“I think over the years I’ve proven I can take responsibility, conduct negotiations and make things happen.

“It’s a situation which will become common practice over the next 20 years in the Scottish Parliament but for the moment it’s just me who’s doing it because it is early days.”

He continued: “People are understandably cynical about politicians given the behaviour of some of them and the media coverage that their behaviour gets.

“I have been involved in elected politics for 25 years now and have never submitted an excessive expenses claim. But all politicians are getting tarred with the same brush at the moment.

“People who know me in the constituency know how hard I work.

“Even when I was First Minister the constituency stuff mattered to me. I believe in what I do and I serve the constituency well both in Holyrood and at home.

“I never turn anybody away and take up cases and issues locally. I’m very proud of my record and what I’ve done over the years.”

So will he still be around in 2011 to fight the next election?

He answered: “I’m currently planning to be around then, so we’ll see. I’ve no plans to announce that I’m going.”