Henry Still Has Not Replied To Pension Demonstrators

Letter to the press 23rd March 2002
Sir,

Many people will be unaware that the attendance of Henry McLeish at the Scottish Parliament has become something of a rarity since he resigned as First Minister. It will no doubt be of reassurance to everyone Mr McLeish represents, having raised the issue, for it to be pointed out that he was in the chamber last Thursday to vote in favour of awarding himself a 13.5% pay rise, pushing his annual income to over £82,000.

Now that he is back in circulation, perhaps Mr McLeish would consider replying to those of his constituents who wrote to him on 17th January this year demanding that he reject the obscene £34,000 annual pension awarded to him after only thirteen months as First Minister. It would only be courteous given that these people (some of them REAL pensioners) took the trouble of handing the letter into his office personally.

I am aware that Mr McLeish was not in his office at the time, and that his memory of any events involving his office can be muddled at times, but I feel that it is important that Mr McLeish replies, if only to dispel the notion that he only writes to people when they are behind with the rent.

My only worry is that some well-meaning employee engaged in a space-saving exercise has shredded the letter.

Yours sincerely,

Jim Balfour
Glenrothes SSP Press Officer