Former MSP Tommy Sheridan loses social worker job legal challenge
Lord Young wrote: "It makes no difference that, in this case, the petitioner's complaint relates to a refusal by the respondent to consider entering into a contract of employment."He added that Mr Sheridan "enjoys no private law right" to be considered for employment by the city council and was trying to apply broad public law concepts to fashion the right to be considered for such jobs.Lord Young ruled: "If the petitioner's argument was accepted, then it would follow that every applicant for a public sector job in Scotland could potentially challenge the job application process using the judicial review procedure."I find that the petition is incompetent for the reasons advanced by the respondent and it falls to be dismissed."The Court of Session is Scotland's highest civil court
Mr Sheridan had applied to become a criminal justice social worker with the council.In his job application, he disclosed he had been given a three year prison sentence in 2011 for perjury after a jury at the High Court in Glasgow concluded he lied on oath during his successful defamation action against the News of the World newspaper.But he was sent a rejection letter in August 2024 and later informed any future applications would not be progressed.At earlier proceedings, his lawyer Mike Dailly said the body which regulates social work in Scotland - the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) - had assessed Mr Sheridan as being a suitable candidate to work in the profession.He argued the decision to reject the application was therefore "irrational". Lord Young ruled against this, saying the registration with the SSSC simply meant he met the minimum statutory requirement for employment.He added an employer was entitled to use "additional criteria" when deciding who to interview or offer jobs to, such as prior convictions. Mr Sheridan served as an MSP for Glasgow between 1999 and 2007.
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