The Scottish Labour supporting Daily Record is reporting that a whistleblower has criticised Labour after revealing he was the man who exposed a senior MSP’s friendship with a sex offender. The concerned citizen came forward last month to express his deep concern about the links between Pam Duncan-Glancy and disgraced Sean Morton.
Political editor Paul Hutchison has revealed that the whistleblower’s complaints went nowhere after a party boss said his team could not probe “personal relationships”. He said: “I felt dismissed when my concerns were questioned. They seemed unconcerned about the personal relationship involved which left me feeling completely unheard, raising even more concerns for the party.”
He pled guilty and was placed on the sex offenders register for three years. He was a lifelong friend of Duncan-Glancy at the time of sentencing, but the friendship went on after his fall from grace.
It can now be revealed that concerns were raised with Scottish Labour as far back as November 13th. In an email to the Scottish party, the whistleblower complained about the pair’s “ongoing” friendship and wrote: “I ask that this matter be reviewed promptly and that a public statement be made to clarify the situation. It is vital that public representatives maintain the highest standards of accountability, particularly where child protection and community trust are concerned.
“I trust that it will be handled with the necessary care and professionalism.”
The matter was then handled by a UK Labour safeguarding officer who asked for more information.
He added that her education brief meant the friendship raised “significant concerns” about her “judgement” and “professional boundaries”.
The Labour official responded: “While it is our responsibility to ensure that Labour Party activities are carried out safely, it is outside of the remit of this team to assess the suitability of those that our members choose to have personal relationships with.”
Duncan-Glancy and Morton have remained in regular contact since 2018 and they enjoyed dinner and drinks to celebrate the Glasgow MSP’s recent birthday.
A source close to Duncan-Glancy said she has performed a caring role for Morton in an attempt to help him get his life back on track after the conviction.
Another insider said Morton was like “family” to the MSP. The pair went to school and university together.
In her resignation statement to Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, she wrote:
“Recent stories about relationships in my personal life have made clear a serious lapse in professional judgement. I recognise that, as a direct consequence of this failure, it is no longer tenable for me to continue to serve in my current role.”
“And insisting the matter is closed when there are so many unanswered questions looks awful. Whistleblowers must have confidence in the process.”
SNP MP Kirsty Blackman said: “These latest revelations raise serious questions about the lack of control within the Scottish Labour party.
“No one is asking for full disclosure of every detail, but voters have a right to know the basics of why the Scottish Labour party’s systems have failed. Why these revelations keep happening? This is becoming a question of integrity for Anas Sarwar and the Scottish Labour party.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: “These safeguarding concerns should not have been disregarded. Scottish Labour has a pastoral responsibility to its elected members and must also take whistleblowers seriously.”