SNP councillor must publicise his own MP’s record

Councillor Donald John Macsween has hit back this evening regarding SNP criticism about his non-attendance at the recent Western Isle Council budget meeting.

He said: “Councillor Philip McLean of the SNP has blithely gone public asking why I was not at the council budgetary meeting last week yet he has not even bothered to check the legal constraints that we councillors must work under before he did so.

When I got the papers for the meetings I saw that the charity which I work for was to be discussed with changes to its funding recommended. Had I stayed there I could have been accused of breaching the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.

I declared my interest in these matters to the chief executive and to the council leader at the earliest opportunity and explained why I should not take part in the discussions.

The code is clear on my obligations as I certainly did have a pecuniary interest. Had I taken part in any discussions that could be seen as favouring my organisation, then the SNP really would have something to criticise me for.

I trust that, even though Councillor McLean of the SNP appears so ignorant of the code of conduct which he himself should be signed up to, he will accept my reasons for doing what I did.

It really does not require a Commander Yates of the Yard investigative mentality.

In my 10 years as a councillor I have missed only one other council meeting. I trust that eagle-eyed Councillor McLean will now apply the same scrutiny to his own boss, the SNP MP Angus Macneil.

I now expect Councillor McLean to also go public with his findings when he checks just how many votes the MP has missed in his five years representing the Western Isles in a parliament in which he seemingly does not believe.

The chickens are coming home to roost for Mr McLean and for the SNP. But I am very pleased he has gone out of his way to allow me this opportunity to put the record straight.

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