Border Telegraph | News | Tories hit out at 'Two Jobs Jim' in attendance row

Monday, 13th October, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 16th April, 2008 09:00

Tories hit out at 'Two Jobs Jim' in attendance row

By David Knox

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LOCAL Tories have slammed a Galashiels councillor, who doubles up as an MSP, for only making just over half of the local authority’s meetings.

Jim Hume was voted in as both a list MSP for the South of Scotland and a council member for Galashiels and District at last year’s elections.

The Yarrow farmer played down initial speculation that the workload would be too much.

But figures released by the local Conservative Party this week have revealed that the Liberal Democrat has only attended 7 of the 12 full council meetings.

John Greenwell, chairman of the Conservative Party in the Borders, told the Border Telegraph: “The people of Galashiels and District deserve a full time councillor to represent them on Scottish Borders Council.

“Last year Councillor Hume assured us that he could do both jobs but this is clearly not the case.

“I wonder what Councillor Hume’s constituents will think of the fact that he is claiming his MSP salary as well as his council salary, when he is clearly not doing both jobs effectively.

“I’m not surprised that he is known as Two Jobs Jim.”

Councillor Hume pockets a basic £15,000 salary from SBC with committee allowances and expenses on top.

And he claims £53,000 as a starting wage from Holyrood.

Local Tory Westminster candidate Chris Walker told us: “I’m not sure how Jim Hume manages to give his full attention to his role as a councillor for Galashiels as well as being an MSP for the whole of the South of Scotland region.

“Councillors are supposed to commit a significant amount of time to their council duties and it appears that Councillor Hume is not managing to do this.

“If this is the level of commitment Councillor Hume shows for official meetings of the council, one can only assume that he is equally half-hearted when it comes to constituency work.”

The attendance figures reveal only Fiona Lackenby, who also represents Galashiels and District, has a lower attendance rate.

But the 42 per cent is due to the Tory being on maternity leave.

Despite only attending 7 of the 12 full meetings at Newtown St Boswells, Councillor Hume refutes the Tory claims that he is letting his constituents down.

He said: “I’ve attended 100 per cent Council planning committee meetings, 92 per cent of Eildon Area Committee meetings and have only missed three big council meetings – once because of a long-standing family wedding, once because of a flu bug and once because of a clash with another longstanding commitment.

“In terms of community groups I’m one of the best attendees at Galashiels Community Council.”

The politician has also hit back at the Tory contender.

Mr Hume added: “I’m surprised at Chris Walker who appears to have little else to do whilst on holiday.

“I have invited Mr Walker to spend an ordinary seven day working week with me so I can show him how I manage to do both jobs as successfully as I do.

So far he has not accepted my invite.”

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