Resignation of shameless MSP demanded

28 April 2008

In response to the breaking news surrounding Keith Brown MSP and his cash payment of £15000, Gordon Banks MP for Ochil and South Perthshire and a resident of Clackmannanshire today said,

“I find this whole issue very disturbing and it looks to me like he has tried to con the people of Ochil.

"Keith Brown in the run up to last year’s election made it very clear that he would not accept this money and he has broken his word on this."

"He chose to try to take the moral high ground and make this an election issue and his language is very clear and cannot be misunderstood. I suggest anyone who is in any doubt as to what he said should look at the Wee County News 21/2/07 and indeed his local Party website (www.ochilsnp.org)."

"That this money or indeed the vast majority is languishing in his bank account a year after the election is shameless."

"I am a resident of Clackmannanshire and I, and I believe many others, are unaware of Mr Brown’s protestations that it was always his intention to “give the money to local groups and charities, not accept it for myself- and that was always known locally.” What I am aware of however, are his press comments and his website postings."

"If these press reports and web postings are incorrect Mr Brown has had over a year to rectify the situation, he hasn’t.

"Many people make charitable donations but they don’t need to take £15000 of money that they believe is morally wrong to do so."

"There would have been nothing wrong with Mr Brown accepting this money if he hadn’t tried to take the high moral ground. "

"However due to his actions Mr Brown is morally bankrupt.."

"He should have the decency to own up to being deceitful and using this issue as an electoral tactic and indeed I call on him to consider his position over this black cloud."