SCOTTISH Labour are in a cash-for-access row after announcing a new scheme to raise funds for next year’s Holyrood elections.
“Give us your money,” Jackie Baillie said in a speech to a few hundred Labour members and corporate lobbyists and executives at a Labour conference event on Sunday night.
She brandished a red leaflet with “Thistle Network” on the front.
Inside, a picture of leader Anas Sarwar and details of the money raising scheme – which has three tiers (silver, golf and platinum) costing between £1000, £3500 and £8000 a year.
“Each offers unique opportunities to connect with our work in Scotland,” the leaflet (below) reads.
It continues: “In just a few months, Scotland will decide its future. The coming election is a pivotal moment – not just for our party, but for the values we share.
“The Thistle Network will be central to delivering a Scottish Labour government. It will be vital to ensuring Scottish Labour continues to grow in strength and influence ahead of the next election.”
Each tier comes with a “welcome event”, a regular political activity newsletter and at least one ticket to the Scottish Labour winter gala.
For the priciest tier, donors can also expect “VIP reception” at the gala, as well as a “platinum pass” to the party’s conference which apparently includes the “business forum” as well as access to private lounges.
The SNP have hit out at the scheme, saying that Jackie Baillie and Scottish Labour “have serious questions to answer” about what wealthy donors will expect in return for their money.
“Labour would be well served to concentrate on fixing the chaos, broken promises and infighting which has characterised their time in office rather than pulling out the begging bowl,” a source told The National.
Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman, meanwhile, said that when corporate donors are giving large amounts of cash to political parties “it is never good news”.
“They aren't giving money to be nice: it's to get something in return. We've seen that in England, where private health lobbyists and other vested interests have bankrolled Keir Starmer's government and benefited from favourable policies, including the further privatisation of the NHS.”
She added: "We need a strong and transparent democracy, not a political system that money can buy. That means taking a serious look at how most political parties are funded and how lobbyists and wealthy donors are held accountable."
Transparency campaigners also hit out at the scheme.
"We all know the wealthy can buy access to power—that's nothing new. But this kind of cash-for-access undermines public trust in politics and leads to disengagement in democracy, Juliet Swan, nations and regions programme manager at Transparency International UK said.
"To address this, transparency about donations and lobbying efforts are paramount. Scottish Labour should not only ensure that all income is properly declared, but also publish the names of the members of the "Thistle Network" and provide details of any associated meetings in order to allow the public to see which commercial interests are influencing their politicians."
A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: “These are inaccurate and frankly ridiculous claims.
“All donations are declared in accordance with Parliamentary and Electoral Commission rules.
“Scottish Labour is working to put an end to decades of SNP decline and build a better future for every Scot.”
The scheme comes as Scottish Labour remain bullish about Sarwar's chances despite recent poll results suggesting the party could be in third place next May.
A Norstat survey this week found that SNP remains on course to win , with 34% of voters planning to back them.
Polling showed Reform would climb to second place on 20% with Labour falling to just 17%.
On the regional list, 29% of voters are planning to vote SNP, with Reform and Labour tied on 18%.
