A PRESSURE group which recommended Scots oust their independence-supporting MPs to back Labour has been branded a “thinly-veiled front” over its links with the party.
Best for Britain, originally set up as a pro-EU think tank, has a number of active Labour members and supporters in its ranks, The National can reveal.
We told previously how the organisation was blasted for its pro-Labour bias in recommending Scots with SNP and Alba MPs to vote for Keir Starmer’s party – even in places where Labour had come third in the last election.
Now we can reveal several members of the organisation are actively involved with the party, including one board member running to be a Labour MP.
Board member Miatta Fahnbulleh is Labour’s candidate in Peckham, south London. Best for Britain’s tactical voting guide made no recommendation in Peckham, judging the seat to be safe for Labour.
Also on the board is the Labour former deputy leader of Lancashire County Council, Frank McKenna.
A fraud case against McKenna, now a professional lobbyist, was thrown out of court in 2003 because the judge believed he would not receive a fair trial.
Two employees are also involved with the party, with one an activist and another previously employed by a Labour MP during the last parliament.
The revelations have led to the organisation being branded a Labour “front” after urging voters to back the party in areas where there is little chance of Tory MPs being elected.
But the organisation has stressed it is home to “a broad range of political views”.
Chris McEleny, the general secretary of the Alba Party and Inverclyde candidate, said: “The unholy alliance of Better Together has got back together to try defeat the independence movement.
“The Labour forces of the Union would rather a Tory was elected over a pro-independence member of Parliament.
“Supporters of Scottish independence should beware that any vote for the Labour Party will be declared after the election as a vote for the Union.
“If you want independence you have to vote for it – and Alba Party are the only party putting independence on the ballot paper at the election.”
Niall Christie, the Greens candidate for Glasgow South, said: “Wannabe Labour MPs like my opponent in Glasgow South can use this thinly-veiled front to try and get them elected all they like, but voters will always see through it.”
His opponent in the seat Gordon McKee previously hailed the guide’s recommendation to vote Labour in Glasgow South.
Christie added: “Distracting from their current pandering to Conservative voters and policies will not wash in Scotland.
“If Labour really cared about democracy and stopping a Tory government for good they’d use their time in government to bring in a system of proportional representation without delay. Anything else is simply lip service.”
A Best for Britain spokesperson said: “Over the last three years, Best for Britain has worked with members of all parties represented in Parliament, to secure improvements to the Government’s Brexit deal which continues to cause immense damage to the UK culturally and economically.
“This work culminated in 114 recommendations, many of which can be seen in the manifestos published by different parties during this election.
“We are proud to bring together political parties in the spirit of constructive collaboration and that our team and our board represents a broad range of political views and diverse backgrounds.”
