Labour and the Larkhall Blues
David Russell will be Labour’s candidate for the upcoming Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, which is being held on June 5 after the death of Christina McKelvie. While he is being touted as a ‘fresh start’ he is an interesting character. He is, how shall we say it, well-connected?
He was appointed in 2018 as a Deputy Lieutenant of Lanarkshire – a role that involves being the King’s representative in the country. The Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire Lady Haughey (CBE) was announced the appointment of Russell as a new Deputy Lieutenant, here. The website of the Lanarkshire Lieutenanacy tells us:
“Lord Lieutenants were first appointed by King Henry VIII to assume the military duties of the Sheriff. Today, the Queen appoints Lord Lieutenants, on the advice of the Prime Minister, to be her representative in their counties.”
Their duties are varied. They:
- organise and escort all official royal visits to their counties
- present decorations when the recipient is unable to attend an Investiture
- present the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise
- present the Queen’s Scout and Guide awards
- brief the Queen’s private office about issues relating to their counties [lol – Ed]
- assist in Royal Garden Parties
- assess nominations both personal and for The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Russell’s the Daily Record managed: “According to Companies House, Russell, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s brother Asim and the interim head coach of Rangers (Barry Ferguson) were among the shareholders of Clyde Valley Developments Ltd in 2009.”
The Record focused on Russell’s association with Barry Ferguson ‘Barry Ferguson’s former business associate selected as Scottish Labour by-election candidate in Hamilton’ – but this is perhaps missing the mark. Russell was a close friend and associate of Frank McAveety, the former Labour MSP who was a member of ex-First Minister Jack McConnell’s Cabinet, and current councillor for Shettleston, who has just been charged with fraud.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “A 62-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with fraud offences in the Glasgow area between 2022 and 2024. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.”
Pictured in the middle of this photograph in the Director’s Box at Ibrox are [left to right]: Councillor Alistair Watson (Council Business Manager and Labour Whip), Frank McAveety, Bob Wylie ‘special advisor’ to the Leader of the council, George Redmond (Business & Investment) and Davy Russell (2016).
Once again Labour are leaning-in to their loyal connections in Larkhall in place of any real vision or policies. If this feels like the worst of West of Scotland Labour cronyism, it’s because it is.
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Frank McAveety, no doubt female employees with Glasgow Council will sympathize with his dilemma!
Yes, this is cronyism at its worst! Am I correct in saying it’s the First Minister who recommends the person that is appointed Lord Lieutenant?
I think that the structures of patronage pre-date devolution so I doubt it would have anything to do with the First Minister
AI Overview tells us this…
“In Scotland, Lord Lieutenants are appointed by the monarch, on the recommendation of the First Minister. The monarch is advised by the Prime Minister. Within the cities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, the Lord Provost serves as the Lord-Lieutenant.”
….but the ‘official’ documents makes no mention of this at all – a quick google tells us that Fife Lord Lieutenant was appointed by the monarch.
No mention of the FM in official documents.
I think that tells us all we need to know about the value of AI, the irrelevance of the monarchy and the waste of time UK governments are subjected to by ‘tradition’.
From the government.uk website; wide-ranging consultation process takes place both locally and nationally to identify potential candidates. In England, this process is undertaken by the Prime Minister’s Appointments Secretary; in Scotland and Wales, by representatives from the Devolved Administrations; and
Website for any interested parties; https://www.gov.uk/guidance/process-for-the-appointment-of-lord-lieutenants