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Labour leader 'being underfunded' Labour leader post 'under funded'
(about 5 hours later)
Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander's parliamentary allowance is too small to meet the demands of her job, according to her party. Scottish Labour Leader Wendy Alexander's parliamentary allowance is too small to meet the demands of her job, according to her party.
It made the claim in a letter to the Holyrood allowances review.It made the claim in a letter to the Holyrood allowances review.
Labour pointed out that the opposition leader at Westminster receives a special allowance of £644,000 - while Ms Alexander gets £22,000 a year. Labour pointed out that the opposition leader at Westminster receives a special allowance of £644,000 - while Ms Alexander receives £22,000 a year.
The party claim that is not enough to employ a private secretary or properly scrutinise the government's policies. The party claims that is not enough to employ a private secretary or properly scrutinise the government's policies.
We are being forced to look at external and/or party sources of funding to meet the demands of the leader's post Sarah MetcalfeScottish LabourWe are being forced to look at external and/or party sources of funding to meet the demands of the leader's post Sarah MetcalfeScottish Labour
The support given to Labour as the main opposition at Holyrood runs to £247,000, while the Conservatives receive just under £4m at Westminster.The support given to Labour as the main opposition at Holyrood runs to £247,000, while the Conservatives receive just under £4m at Westminster.
In a submission to the review Sarah Metcalfe, Labour's research and strategy director, said the party was required to hold to account an SNP government which had the entire civil service at its disposal.In a submission to the review Sarah Metcalfe, Labour's research and strategy director, said the party was required to hold to account an SNP government which had the entire civil service at its disposal.
She stated: "We are being forced to look at external and/or party sources of funding to meet the demands of the leader's post and even consider whether [the] members support allowance could be used, which is properly intended to support her work as a constituency member. She said: "We are being forced to look at external and/or party sources of funding to meet the demands of the leader's post and even consider whether [the] members support allowance could be used, which is properly intended to support her work as a constituency member.
'Paid directly'
"Such an approach does not serve the interests of either parliament or probity.""Such an approach does not serve the interests of either parliament or probity."
Scottish Parliament officials pointed out that Labour this year qualified for a £21,813 leader's allowance, which is calculated on a pro-rata basis.
The SNP's submission to the inquiry also pointed out the gap between MP and MSP allowances.The SNP's submission to the inquiry also pointed out the gap between MP and MSP allowances.
"Salaries and costs for staff should be separated and removed from MSPs' members support allowance," added SNP Holyrood group convener Gil Paterson."Salaries and costs for staff should be separated and removed from MSPs' members support allowance," added SNP Holyrood group convener Gil Paterson.
"This should be paid directly from the parliament, which would mean that real costs incurred by the MSP would be identifiable and accurate.""This should be paid directly from the parliament, which would mean that real costs incurred by the MSP would be identifiable and accurate."