 | 'I find it reprehensible that a public servant, whose excessive salary is paid for out of public funds, should be abusing his office to try to undermine a Member of Parliament and to make statements about the internal affairs of the Labour Party.' Dennis Canavan MP on David Whitton, advisor to Donald Dewar 23 rd February 1999. |  |
Mr Canavan, MP for Falkirk West, has written to Cabinet Secretary Sir Richard Wilson complaining about Mr David Whitton.
He says: "I find it reprehensible that a public servant, whose excessive salary is paid for out of public funds, should be abusing his office to try to undermine a Member of Parliament and to make statements about the internal affairs of the Labour Party."
Mr Canavan is involved in an acrimonious dispute with Labour which rejected him as "not good enough" for the Scottish Parliament after 25 years as an MP in Westminster. He has infuriated Labour by standing in Falkirk West as an Independent in the Holyrood election.
All Scotland's opposition parties have at various times since Mr Whitton's controversial appointment criticised the size of his salary - which is higher than that of the Scottish Office's head of information - and questioned his role as a "spin doctor". The Tories have said he should be on Labour's party payroll and not paid from public funds.
Mr Whitton has always denied stepping over the line which separates his role as a civil servant, paid by the taxpayer and bound by the civil service code, into party politics. His only public comment yesterday was to say: "No comment - if I did comment I would be indulging in what I am accused of."
Mr Canavan referred Sir Richard to a diary column written by Mr Whitton for the Sunday Herald in which he said he suspected the BBC Panorama programme was about to "stitch up" Labour after its selection process in Scotland.
The MP also accused Mr Whitton of giving off-the-record comments about his decision to fight his constituency as an Independent after a group he called "control freaks" barred him from the approved list of Labour candidates despite the overwhelming support of his local party.
Mr Canavan told Sir Richard that, although Mr Whitton was a political appointee, he was a civil servant and not a party official.
"Although he may be able to make political statements on behalf of the Government, he should not be involving himself in the internal affairs of the Labour Party."
The "not good enough" remark was made by Donald Dewar during a visit by Tony Blair to Scotland and surprised observers who thought it uncharacteristically blunt for a Secretary of State who is noted for his courteous debating style.
The remark was delivered at a Labour fund-raiser in the presence of Mr Blair's spokesman, Mr Alastair Campbell. Mr Dewar's comments had been passed in advance to the media by Mr Whitton.
Scottish Liberal Democrat campaign chairman Michael Moore queried whether Mr Whitton's salary would appear in Labour's election expenses returns if he had a political role in the formal campaign.
A Scottish Office spokesman said Sir Richard would reply to the letter. "Mr Whitton has said there is absolutely no truth in suggestions he had made off-the-record statements about Mr Canavan.
"On the Panorama issue, Mr Whitton was concerned that the programme should take a broader view of devolution than just the selection of party candidates. He is a special adviser and can continue to be a special adviser offering political advice during the election. What he cannot do is get involved in active party politics."
DAVID Whitton is an experienced journalist-turned-spin doctor who has long been regarded as a Labour-friendly media operator.
When you see Donald Dewar on television, you often see Whitton close by his side. The two go everywhere together. Dewar is the medium. Whitton is the message, one of the new breed of spin doctors so beloved of New Labour.
The Whitton style is less aggressive than that of the redoubtable Alastair Campbell, suitably refined for a Scottish media where the older generation knows him well. Whitton is aware of being among colleagues who would not expect him to try intimidation. Scotland is too small a country for that.
Married with a grown-up family, David Whitton made his name in tabloid journalism (Daily Record), became a familiar face and authoritative correspondent on industry with Scottish Television, then went into a private media business partnership.
His move to Mr Dewar's side was predestined when Labour came to power and the most aggressive party political publicity machine in history went to work for Tony Blair. After the Scottish Office chief press officer was eased out by Labour (along with contemporaries in several ministries) and a replacement was found, Whitton was summoned by Dewar and given the role which makes him the most senior of all.
Whitton is a good communicator, occasionally given to brusque language with those asking difficult questions. But at least the journalists receive the message clearly. - Feb 17.
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