50 MSPs with a Vote…
Earlier this week I posted on the upcoming Scottish Labour leadership contest. Of the Electoral College (EC) I observed that it “was to be made up of all party members in Scotland and trade union affiliate members, MPs, MSPs and MEPs” (I think I must have had a similar thought to Will Patterson of J Arthur McNumpty who posted on the same subject just 10 minutes before me).
This was based on what was to happen last time round. The fact that members of affiliated Labour party trade unions get a vote is quite interesting. Even if you have asked to be removed from the union’s political fund (which goes to the Labour party) you still get a vote.
So even if your aren’t a Labour supporter, even if you are a member of another political party you will still get a vote. A quick look at the Scottish Parliament website and you will see that Green MSP Patrick Harvie and SNP MSP Christina McKelvie are both members of Unison and therefore will have a vote.
There are two others who I think will also be entitled to a vote – Community Health Minister Shona 
Robison and Cabinet Secretary for the Environment and Rural Affairs Richard Lochhead. So that’s 4 votes held by MSPs of other parties that the potential Labour leadership candidates can chase!
If they are to be members of the selectorate for the Scottish Labour leadership I think we can safely assume that the potential candidate will definitely not want their endorsement.
3 viewpoints:
Not entirely true regarding Unison Dave. Unison has 2 sections to its political fund, 1 affilated to New Labour with the other being a general fund.
I know for sure that Christina doesnt subscribe to the affilated section, and help us ensure that Scotland's largest Unison branch has a policy of discouraging members to join the affilated section.
Your general point is correct regarding other unions who have one political fund, for example my election agent received his voting papers for the depute leadership of British Labour.
My mother in law, who is not a Labour Party Member, received voting papers for the British Depute Leadership election via the TGWU.
There was a box which she had to tick to say she endorsed the views of the Labour Party.
She couldn't bring herself to tick the box, and so didn't bother voting.
I would hazard a guess that any MSP in the position you describe might find it equally difficult.
The affiliated organisations ballot paper includes a declaration that you do not support any party which stands candidates in opposition to the Labour Party.
So your point is lost unless, you are assuming that MSPs who chose not to be a member of the political wing of the trades unon movement are liars?
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