A Labour MSP dumped as a Holyrood candidate has accused her party of doing nothing to promote disabled people getting into Parliament.
Siobhan McMahon, who has a form of cerebral palsy, also said it would be “hypocritical” of Labour to attend a rally this week staged to increase the political participation of disabled citizens.
Her father Michael, who is also an MSP, said his party should be "embarrassed" about its record on this issue.
However, a senior Labour figure hit back at McMahon’s comments and said of her poor performance in the regional List selection: “She just didn’t perform to the standards required for members to re-select her.”
With Labour likely to lose all its first past the post MSPs at the Holyrood election, the party could return as many as 25 List members in May.
Labour’s recent List ranking process was highly competitive and the results mean many sitting MSPs are certain to lose their places in the Parliament.
McMahon was a Labour List MSP returned to serve Central Scotland in 2011, but was ranked 10th by party members earlier this month.
Given that only seven MSPs spanning all the political parties can be elected on a List, her placing means it is impossible for her to get elected.
On Facebook, McMahon unleashed her frustration. “I’ve been working hard as a disabled MSP for 5 years and that hasn’t been recognised”, she wrote.
She added that “our party is very good at warm words and pledges and not so good at actions”.
In a statement to the Sunday Herald, McMahon went further: “We have signed a pledge as a Party to do all we can to have disabled people represented in Parliament but have done nothing to promote this.”
“As far as I am aware there are a handful of candidates who would self define as disabled however none of them are in winnable positions on the list.”
The ‘One in Five’ campaign, set up to encourage, empower and increase political participation amongst the disabled, is to have a photoshoot outside Holyrood on Saturday.
However, McMahon says her own party should stay away: “I think it would be hypocritical of Labour to attend the rally/photo op of the 1 in 5 campaign being held next week outside of Parliament. I won't be there as I think my presence would detract from the serious issue the group are trying to promote.”
She continued: “It would be interesting to know what action Scottish Labour believe we have taken to meet the pledge we have signed up to, I can't think of an example.
“This issue is bigger than me and my list position but I would at least have thought it would have been discussed with me prior to the selections or indeed after the result. Neither has happened.”
Her father, who came ninth in the Central Scotland rankings and is also facing a Holyrood exit, told this newspaper: "There has not even been the remotest effort to fulfil our commitment to the One in Five campaign. The party itself cannot be anything other than embarrassed about its failure."
Labour declined to comment.
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