SCOTTISH Labour MSP joked about having shares in a major weapons firm in the wake of UK airstrikes in the Middle East, The National can reveal.
Glasgow MSP Paul Sweeney has come in for criticism for making “callous and self-interested” comments he made in 2015 about Britain’s bombing campaign against Daesh in Syria, in newly unearthed tweets.
It comes after the former Glasgow North East MP ended his sponsorship of a weapons industry event, linked to Israel, at the Scottish Parliament after he was challenged on it by The Ferret.
Now The National has learned that Sweeney spoke about selling shares in BAE Systems – his former employer – before their value rocketed after Britain authorised airstrikes in Syria.
Responding to a tweet highlighting the firm’s soaring share price after action was approved by MPs, Sweeney said: “Damn. I sold all my BAE Systems shares two months ago. I still got a nice return on my investment though. [smiley face emoji]”
Sweeney’s comments were made in December 2015, two months before he was revealed to be Labour’s last-placed candidate on the West of Scotland list ahead of the Scottish Parliament election.
Sweeney has denied having shares in BAE Systems and said his comments were a “crass and failed attempt at humour”.
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Arms Trade, an anti-war group, said: “The comments from Paul Sweeney MSP were not only insensitive and distasteful but highlight a fundamental problem – the cosy relationship between the arms industry and the Scottish Parliament.
“This pipeline of elected representatives holding open doors within parliament for their arms dealer ex-colleagues happens across the UK, allowing undue influence over policy and public funds.”
They also called on the ADS Group event, formerly sponsored by Sweeney, to be cancelled, calling the weapons sector reception a gathering of “warmongers”.
They added: “At a time when Israel is committing genocide with the help of the UK arms industry, and shareholders are lining their pockets with Palestinian suffering, it is more important than ever that this close relationship between parliament and the arms industry is ended – from breaking the constant flow of public funds to cancelling the warmongers’ reception by the ADS Group next week.”
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SCOTTISH Labour MSP joked about having shares in a major weapons firm in the wake of UK airstrikes in the Middle East, The National can reveal.
Glasgow MSP Paul Sweeney has come in for criticism for making “callous and self-interested” comments he made in 2015 about Britain’s bombing campaign against Daesh in Syria, in newly unearthed tweets.
It comes after the former Glasgow North East MP ended his sponsorship of a weapons industry event, linked to Israel, at the Scottish Parliament after he was challenged on it by The Ferret.
Now The National has learned that Sweeney spoke about selling shares in BAE Systems – his former employer – before their value rocketed after Britain authorised airstrikes in Syria.
Responding to a tweet highlighting the firm’s soaring share price after action was approved by MPs, Sweeney said: “Damn. I sold all my BAE Systems shares two months ago. I still got a nice return on my investment though. [smiley face emoji]”
Sweeney’s comments were made in December 2015, two months before he was revealed to be Labour’s last-placed candidate on the West of Scotland list ahead of the Scottish Parliament election.
Sweeney has denied having shares in BAE Systems and said his comments were a “crass and failed attempt at humour”.
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Arms Trade, an anti-war group, said: “The comments from Paul Sweeney MSP were not only insensitive and distasteful but highlight a fundamental problem – the cosy relationship between the arms industry and the Scottish Parliament.
“This pipeline of elected representatives holding open doors within parliament for their arms dealer ex-colleagues happens across the UK, allowing undue influence over policy and public funds.”
They also called on the ADS Group event, formerly sponsored by Sweeney, to be cancelled, calling the weapons sector reception a gathering of “warmongers”.
They added: “At a time when Israel is committing genocide with the help of the UK arms industry, and shareholders are lining their pockets with Palestinian suffering, it is more important than ever that this close relationship between parliament and the arms industry is ended – from breaking the constant flow of public funds to cancelling the warmongers’ reception by the ADS Group next week.”
Christ, man.