THREAD - SCOTTISH LAND COMMISSION. On 1 December it was widely reported that former MSP and Cabinet Secretary Michael Russell had stood down as President of the SNP in order to take up a post as Chair of the Scottish Land Commission (SLC). [image] 1/8
At the time this struck me as very odd. Public appointments like this are made after open competition. Imagine you had applied for the post and the first you knew you had not been proposed for appointment was when you read in the media that Russell was lined up for it. 2/8
I do not know who briefed the press about this before any official announcement but it was a clear breach of confidence. For the role of Land Commissioners, Parliament has to approve the appointment BEFORE Ministers can appoint. Who leaked this information and why? 3/8
Ministers appoint the chair from among the approved Land Commissioners. None of this has happened yet. However, the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee did consider the matter in private session on Tuesday 12 December. So maybe we will learn more about the process soon. 4/8
When original Land Commissioners were appointed, the relevant Committee took evidence in public from those nominated. This is not required by law. There’s no information yet on whether this will happen again. Parliament will, however, have to vote on to approve candidates. 5/8
The appointment comes at a sensitive time. The SLC has been up & running for just over five years & this is the 1st change in membership & a new Chair. It is vital that the SLC is trusted as an impartial adviser to Ministers. No appointments 2 date have been party political. 6/8
Last week, John Nicolson MP, was concerned about links between public appointments to chair bodies such as BBC & membership of political partyforming the Government. The impression is rightly or wrongly that the SLC appointment is designed to make life easier for Government. 7/8
It remains to be seen who Ministers appoint as Members and who then as Chair. Parliament will debate the appointments in due course. It is vital that the right person is appointed and that the work of the SLC is unimpeded by real or perceived political bias. 8/8
@andywightman Good point, Andy. Leak totally wrong and not at all clear what Mike Russell's qualifications are/
@andywightman You can't be shocked at the SNP show horning their supporters into such positions
@andywightman I usually get emails/notifications to alert that applications for this type of appointment are being sought, but don’t think I didn’t for this. Maybe I don’t have the right pronouns.
@andywightman a concerning post Please keep us posted
@andywightman As a result of their support from Greens, SNP believe that they can get anything they want through Parliament. Presumably they are confident they will get this through.