Shadow minister briefed newspaper against leader
Paul Hutcheon Scottish Political Editor

SCOTTISH Labour appeared to be in crisis last night after one of the party's most senior MSPs was caught up in a row about briefing against Wendy Alexander.

Margaret Curran, the party's shadow health secretary, has admitted being at the centre of unflattering comments about Alexander's performance as party leader.

A recent newspaper piece had stated that Labour MSPs were critical of her performance and judgement, with the phrase "shocking and appalling" quoted in the story, which is now revealed to have been based on a briefing by Curran.

It also claimed that MSPs had misgivings about the official Labour press operation and were considering doing their own work with the media.

Curran was said to have been confronted by Labour business manager Jackie Baillie about her behaviour.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Alexander told the Sunday Herald: "As far as Wendy is concerned, this is just tittle-tattle and newspaper gossip. She has drawn a line under the affair."

The row surfaced as Alexander faced internal party criticism for her performances at Holyrood against First Minister Alex Salmond. Her low point was said to have occurred in the last week of February, when she put in a weak showing at first minister's question time.

The poor display was followed by a newspaper article which contained critical comments about Alexander from unnamed colleagues.

The Sunday Herald can reveal that Curran, who was a strong supporter of Alexander's bid to become leader, has admitted talking to the newspaper that ran the story.

At a showdown with Labour business manager Baillie, who confronted her about the article, Curran was said to have "put her hands up" during the course of the conversation.

It is understood Curran may have used language to colleagues similar to that used in the newspaper article, a coincidence that Labour figures found to be suspicious.

The issue was addressed at last week's shadow Cabinet by Alexander, who, without naming names, stressed the importance of party discipline to her colleagues.

A senior Labour MSP said: "Margaret spoke to the newspaper after first minister's questions and it got back to Jackie. She put her hands up and that prevented it from going any further. She didn't seek to cover it up, but it was far from clever."

Another Labour source said of Curran: "It is her own stupidity."

The episode confirms that senior Labour MSPs are beginning to turn against Alexander as she attempts to rebuild her faltering leadership.

She faced ridicule last month after shadow Cabinet members had been handed loyalty "crib sheets" and asked to read them out over the telephone to sympathetic journalists. The scripts were later leaked to a newspaper.

Days later, a copy of a shadow Cabinet minute, in which the crib-sheet tactic was declared a success, was also leaked to the media.

The Sunday Herald is aware of several Labour figures who, while initially supportive of Alexander's bid to become the party's Holyrood leader, are now doubtful of her abilities for the top job.

Alexander's short stint as leader has so far been marred by various investigations into the funding of her leadership bid.

Baillie declined to answer specific questions about the latest incident, but said: "Margaret Curran is a very valued colleague and works hard in the shadow cabinet." Asked if Alexander trusted Curran, she said: "You would need to put that to Wendy."

Curran did not return calls yesterday.

An SNP spokesman said: "It is clear the sharks are circling around Wendy Alexander's beleaguered leadership. Even the apparent support of Gordon Brown is not enough to secure her position"