A SCOTTISH Tory stalwart, who was blocked from taking a vacant seat in the European Parliament, has branded Ruth Davidson's party “autocratic”.
Belinda Don has spoken out after formally being denied the MEP slot on Wednesday, despite being next in line on the Tory list for the seat at Brussels.
No by-election is held for a vacant MEP seat. It is expected that when a seat is vacated mid-term the next person on the party list inherits it, if the party gives its agreement by providing a certificate to the election’s Returning Officer.
After being blocked, Don accused Davidson's party of a “massive breach of democracy”. She described the party process as a like “renaissance court” that chooses and elevates its “courtiers” and said her treatment had been “deeply shaming”.
The 2014 European election saw one Tory candidate, Ian Duncan, elected to serve in the Brussels legislature for the Scotland seat. However, Duncan stood for Westminster this year and his election would have created a vacancy in Europe as he would have resigned his MEP post.
Rumours circulated that if Duncan had won his Westminster seat the Tories would snub Don – second on the list after Duncan – and hand the Euro seat to Davidson ally Iain McGill.
Although Duncan failed in his bid to become an MP, he was elevated to the House of Lords and the vacancy at Brussels was created.
For Don to take up the place in the European Parliament the party had to provide a certificate to the election’s Returning Officer by last Wednesday.
However, the deadline passed, meaning Don will not be an MEP, and she is now consulting lawyers about her next steps.
In an interview with the Sunday Herald, she said: “It is a massive breach of democracy. This isn’t just a bit of internal political fighting. This is overturning an election result.”
Don said she had received an email from the party which suggested that the certificate would be issued. However, she said she then got a “massively retracting email” which put the onus for the decision on the party’s governing Management Board.
She was then told that the party would not be issuing a certificate. Asked how she felt about that decision, Don said it was “outrageous” to “treat my service record with the Tory party with such contempt” and “treat the voters and the party members who voted with me with such contempt”.
On why the party had not backed her, she said: “That is a question that Ruth should be answering.”
She continued: “It is certainly down to the leadership and the Management Board.”"
Don said all requests for a meeting had been rejected: “I don’t think it does the party any credit at all. I think it is deeply shaming.”
She continued: “We are meant to live in a democracy. We aren’t living in a renaissance court where you can just choose your courtiers and elevate them. Ignoring the wishes and votes of your membership is pretty autocratic.”
Born in Birmingham, the 59 year old worked for former Tory MEP Struan Stevenson for 12 years. She has stood for the party in four elections – twice for the European Parliament and once each at Holyrood and Westminster.
Don has been a party member for over a decade and currently runs a publishing business that specialises in oil and gas.
In 2011, she backed MSP Murdo Fraser for the Tory leadership over Davidson, a decision some in the party believe may explain the snub. She said: “I have been told that, but I can only speculate. You would have to ask Ruth," adding: “I have been told they want Iain McGill.”
On suggestions she had not been active recently in Scottish Tory politics, she said: “It is true that, in the last couple of years, I haven’t done much with the party, because I run a business that is involved in publishing information on oil and gas. I have been out there looking after the business and the livelihoods of 25 other people.”
Don said her experience at Brussels and in the business world would have made her a valuable addition to the European Parliament.
“It’s absolutely vital that we have more people in Parliament who understand how difficult it is to create wealth and jobs and businesses. I could make a really good and useful MEP.”
One newspaper reported that Davidson regarded Don as “stuck up”. She responded: “I am rather sick of this reverse snobbery...that it is all right to write somebody off as posh even if you know nothing about them.”
Alyn Smith, an SNP MEP since 2004, said: "I've known Belinda the best part of 10 years, we've debated each other on countless hustings and where we certainly have our differences I've no doubt she would be a big asset to Team Scotland at a time when it really is all hands to the pump.
"She's intelligent, feisty and hard working, and has been treated appallingly by her own side. There's also the point of principle. By ripping up the list the Conservative Party members voted upon to present to the people of Scotland, Team Ruth proves how little respect for Scotland's democracy they actually have. This is a party that would have gone to court to prevent a woman MEP, in favour of some place man. It reflects badly on them."
A Scottish Tory spokesman said: "The party is unable to comment on this matter until a successor to Ian Duncan is appointed."
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