SNP selection candidate wins appeal after 'stitch up'
Speaking to The National on Monday, Giugliano (below) said: 'I'm delighted that the SNP's Conduct Appeals Committee unanimously upheld my appeal and dismissed the complaint that led to my removal from the Falkirk West selection ballot, days before the poll closed.
(Image: Toni Giugliano)
'I should never have been suspended and removed from the ballot. The committee's report is clear that I was denied a fair hearing. Indeed, I should have been cleared.'
He claimed the result was a 'full vindication for the members who voted for me and stood by me', adding: 'I will now consult both with my supporters in Falkirk and the party, about what comes next.
'But make no mistake – our membership is the foundation of the SNP and they must never again be sidelined and disenfranchised. I'm pleased that due process has finally prevailed.'
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A complaint of bullying was made against Giugliano just days before the local party voted to choose its candidate for next year's election.
He was running against three others and councillor Gary Bouse emerged victorious.
But the complaint was dismissed by Giugliano's supporters as a conspiracy to block him from running, with one member telling The Herald in May: 'Toni has been stitched up and the voices of local members totally disregarded.'
(Image: Supplied)
A statement to SNP national secretary Alex Kerr (above, right) from the Falkirk South branch said: 'The SNP is founded on the principles of democracy and the active participation of its members.
'We are therefore dismayed that Toni Giugliano – a vetted candidate – was removed from the ballot just days before the declaration of results, in a decision that is entirely politically motivated and lacking in transparency."
The SNP were approached for comment.
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Edinburgh West Christine Jardine MP Lib Dem 142 votes, 321 early day motions, 146 spoken contributions, 39 written questions Lillian Jones - Kilmarnock and Loudon Labour 173 votes, 14 early day motions, 34 spoken contributions, four written questions Chris Kane - Stirling and Strathallan Labour 225 votes, 25 early day motions, 22 spoken contributions, 25 written questions John Lamont - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk Conservative 185 votes, four early day motions, 119 spoken contributions, 25 written questions Chris Law - Dundee Central SNP SNP business, international development and trade spokesman 76 votes, 275 early day motions, 72 spoken contributions, 139 written questions Graham Leadbitter - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey SNP SNP science, innovation and technology, transport, and energy security and net zero spokesman 79 votes, 169 early day motions, 63 spoken contributions, 92 written questions Brian Leishman - Alloa and Grangemouth Brian Leishman, the Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth | Michael Gillen/National World Labour 225 votes, 170 early day motions, 74 spoken contributions, 65 written questions Seamus Logan - Aberdeenshire North and Moray East SNP SNP environment, food and rural affairs, and health and social care spokesman 80 votes, 77 early day motions, 96 spoken contributions, 74 written questions Angus Macdonald - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire Lib Dem 143 votes, 432 early day motions, 41 spoken contributions, 171 written questions Douglas McAllister - West Dunbartonshire Labour 217votes, 32 early day motions, 77 spoken contributions, six written questions Martin McCluskey - Inverclude and Renfrewshire West Labour Government assistant whip 225 votes, zero early day motions, 13 spoken contributions, six written questions Blair McDougall - East Renfrewshire Labour 186 votes, 26 early day motions, 59 spoken contributions, 118 written questions Gordon McKee - Glasgow South Labour 207 votes, 26 early day motions, 25 spoken contributions, six written questions Frank McNally - Coatbridge and Bellshill Labour 200 votes, 15 early day motions, 34 spoken contributions, nine written questions Kirsty McNeill - Midlothian Scottish Minister Kirsty McNeill | Press Association Labour Scottish minister 202 votes, zero early day motions, 27 spoken contributions, zero written questions David Mundell - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale Conservative 122 votes, nine early day motions, 101 spoken contributions, 40 written questions Chris Murray - Edinburgh East and Musselburgh Labour 223 votes, zero early day motions, 83 spoken contributions, 23 written questions Ian Murray - Edinburgh South Scottish Secretary Ian Murray Labour Scottish secretary 187 votes, zero early day motions, 29 spoken contributions, zero written questions Katrina Murray - Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch Labour 198 votes, 23 early day motions, 34 spoken contributions, four written questions Susan Murray - Mid Dunbartonshire Lib Dem 152 votes, 79 early day motions, 34 spoken contributions, 88 written questions Pamela Nash - Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke Pamela Nash MP | John Devlin/National World Labour 220 votes, zero early day motions, 10 spoken contributions, zero written questions Brendan O'Hara - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber SNP SNP Cabinet Office, culture, media and sport, and Middle East spokesman 84 votes, 54 early day motions, 65 spoken contributions, 46 written questions Gregor Poynton - Livingston Labour 218 votes, 18 early day motions, 68 spoken contributions, 40 written questions Joani Reid - East Kilbride and Strathaven Labour 195 votes, one early day motion, 27 spoken contributions, 11 written questions Martin Rhodes - Glasgow North Labour 222 votes, 52 early day motions, 36 spoken contributions, 16 written questions Michael Shanks - Rutherglen Energy Minister Michael Shanks |Labour Energy security and net zero minister 192 votes, zero early day motions, 72 spoken contributions, zero written questions Euan Stainbank - Falkirk Labour 232 votes, 65 early day motions, 58 spoken contributions, 107 written questions Kenneth Stevenson - Airdrie and Shotts Labour 191 votes, three early day motions,17 spoken contributions, six written questions Elaine Stewart - Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock Labour 180 votes, 14 early day motions, 31 spoken contributions, two written questions Jamie Stone - Caithness, Sutherland and Ross Lib Dem 151 votes, 80 early day motions, 74 spoken contributions, 19 written questions Kirsteen Sullivan - Bathgate and Linlithgow Labour 179 votes, 72 early day motions, 63 spoken contributions, 16 written questions Alison Taylor - Paisley and Renfrewshire West Labour 138 votes, eight early day motions, 20 spoken contributions, 42 written questions Imogen Walker - Hamilton and Clyde Valley Labour 187 times, zero early day motions, eight spoken contributions, six written question Melanie Ward - Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy Labour 217 votes, zero early day motions, 84 spoken contributions, 58 written questions Pete Wishart - Perth and Kinross-shire
