Battle for Commonwealth top job heats up

Baroness Patricia Scotland says she has 'no time for nonsense' as Boris Johnson tries to oust her

VISIT: Baroness Patricia Scotland Photo: Carl Court/Getty Images

THE HEAD of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Baroness Patricia Scotland, has hit back at critics ahead of a challenge to her leadership.

Baroness Scotland, who made history as Britain’s first black Attorney General from 2007 to 2010, is facing a bid to oust her as Secretary General, with opposition led by Boris Johnson.

Speaking ahead of a conference where she is being challenged for the leadership of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Baroness Scotland told The Voice that the campaign against her was divisive and based on lies.

She called on her critics to contribute positively to the Commonwealth or “get out of my way.”

The heads of state from the 54 Commonwealth nations gathered in the Rwandan capital Kigali today for a week-long conference that will conclude with a vote on who will lead the organisation.

Allies of Baroness Scotland have accused Johnson of having ‘a vendetta’ against her because she ‘refuses to do his bidding.’

INTERVENTIONS: Boris Johnson is trying to oust Baroness Scotland (Pic: James Glossop – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Last month, Johnson broke with tradition to tweet Britain’s support for Jamaica’s candidate Kamina Johnson Smith.

In a tweet, which has since been deleted, the British Prime Minister wrote: “Delighted to confirm the UK will support Johnson Smith’s campaign to be the next Secretary General. She has the vast experience and support to unite our unique family of nations and seize the opportunities ahead.”

There have been a series of stories planted in British media outlets favourable to the government attacking Baroness Scotland for allegedly spending £63,000 on two policy advisors, a fee condemned as “staggering” and “excessive”, even though that figure is regarded as moderate.

Baroness Scotland, who was also the first black female QC in Britain, was also accused of spending £300,000 refurbishing her official grace-and-favour Commonwealth flat – not much more than the cost of Johnson’s gold wallpaper in his Number 10 flat.

A clearly frustrated Baroness Scotland, who was Britain’s first black woman QC barrister, told The Voice she remained focused on delivering for the 2.5 billion people in Commonwealth countries, and was proud of her record.

Baroness Scotland said: “I can’t control what people say; I only know what the truth is, and the truth is every allegation that has been made is a lie. If they want to spread disinformation that’s up to them, but I’m not going to let it adversely affect my commitment to the Commonwealth, which I am totally dedicated to.

“We haven’t got time for this nonsense; they should have better things to do. These people spreading tales, just come and help me with climate change, trade, domestic violence, to reduce suffering and deliver more peace. If you can’t, just get out of my way.”

VISION: Jamaica’s candidate Kamina Johnson Smith has many admirers and the vote is likely to be close (photo: Jamaican HC)

Anti-Scotland stories have got progressively more petty in the run-up to the Commonwealth conference, with one British media outlet describing her as a “law breaker” because the Commonwealth Secretariat lost an employment tribunal case, even though the UK government loses dozens of employment cases each month.

Boris Johnson’s tweet endorsing Johnson Smith raised eyebrows because Britain, which currently holds the chair of the Commonwealth of Nations, is supposed to remain neutral.

The PM’s tweet was seen as a sign of desperation from London, and the backlash prompted Downing Street to delete it a few days later.

Critics of Britain’s tactics described Johnson’s government as trying to “rewind the clock” and create “British Empire 2.0”.

SUPPORT: Boris Johnson’s now-deleted tweet

The Daily Telegraph reported: “Friends of Lady Scotland have accused the Government of “sowing discord” among Commonwealth nations by using foreign office staff to brief out “vitriolic” personal attacks on her to local media outlets.”

A source close to Baroness Scotland is reported to have said: “The foreign office is spending all its efforts lobbying for a rival candidate. It is incredibly divisive.”

The Commonwealth leadership will be decided at a heads of government meeting in Rwanda in June, where 54 prime ministers and presidents will pick between Baroness Scotland and Johnson Smith, who has been getting rave reviews for her campaign.

Last month the Jamaican senator told The Voice she was not getting involved in the squabbling and outlined her vision for a Commonwealth which levered more finance for development to alleviate the impact of climate change.

Baroness Scotland is also proud of her record on climate change, setting up a Climate Finance Access Hub, a Blue Charter to clean up the oceans, and an Innovation Hub to pool the sharing of technology across the Commonwealth states.

She has served as Commonwealth Secretary General since 2016 and is running as a candidate for Dominica even though she is best known for being the UK government’s Attorney General and a Home Office minister.

Baroness Scotland said that she had turned the Commonwealth Secretariat around in the past six years. She inherited a ‘C-rated’ organisation with a 43% funding shortfall, and has solved both of those problems with audits rating the body as A+.

She told The Voice: “Over the last six years we have harnessed the power and talents of the Commonwealth and used it for the benefit of everyone. Intra-Commonwealth investment has tripled in my first term.”

Comments Form

1 Comment

  1. | Chaka Artwell

    I am angry that Her Majesty’s African-heritage men; women and youth are represented by people such as Baroness Scotland.
    Baroness Scotland appears to be in love with the kudo and the prestige of being the Commonwealth Secretary far more than advocating on behalf of Her Majesty’s African Heritage Subjects.
    Where was Baroness Scotland and the Commonwealth Institution in 2018, when over eighty African-Caribbean heritage men and women of senior years were being illegally exiled to the Caribbean; without any financial means of survival?
    It is time for Baroness Scotland to enjoy her pension and allow the Commonwealth Institute to be governed by someone who genuinely cares about rank-and-file African-heritage people.
    I hope Her Majesty’s Prime Minister has to courage to seek Baroness Scotland immediate removal from the Commonwealth Institute.
    Baroness Scotland is the reason why all African-heritage people must not assume the appointment of an African-heritage men or women will be a panacea of justice and assistance for Her Majesty’s African-heritage Subjects.

    Baroness Scotland is the example that simply having African-skin man or woman in public office is no guarantee of superior or just behaviour; thinking or judgment.

    Baroness Scotland is the evidence that the Left-wing “inclusion, diversity and equality” policy is not a remedy for skin-colour disparity; discrimination and segregation.

    Nothing beats having genuine African-heritage people who sincerely cares to advocate on behalf of the many skin-colour disparities that continue to destroy African-heritage people’s life chances.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*
*

Support The Voice

The Voice Newspaper is committed to celebrating black excellence, campaigning for positive change and informing the black community on important issues. Your financial contributions are essential to protect the future of the publication as we strive to help raise the profile of the black communities across the UK. Any size donation is welcome and we thank you for your continued support.

Support Sign-up