Motherwell and Wishaw MSP John Pentland has been appointed as Shadow Whip on Scottish Labour’s frontbench.

John Pentland said:

“I’m looking forward to 2012. I am really pleased to be asked to be part of the shadow ministerial team by Scottish Labour’s new leader, Johann Lamont.

“We have a difficult job to do, trying to keep a majority nationalist government in check.

“They can just bulldoze the parliament without listening to the legitimate concerns of those who have the temerity to disagree with them. We need to win the arguments and get public pressure on our side to get the Scottish Government to stop and think again when they are wrong.

“I am confident that the reinvigorated Scottish Labour Party can win the arguments and get public support. If the Scottish Government don’t listen, their support will melt away.”

John has also moved from the Finance Committee to the Local Government and Regeneration Committee.

“Coming from a local government finance background, I was happy to be involved with scrutiny of the budget – although not happy with the lack of detail and clarity. That scrutiny is now finished, and I welcome the chance to move to the major committee that deals with local government issues, where I can use my knowledge and experience of local government to hold the Scottish Government to account.”