Ode to Gordon

Remember remember the 5th of November,
When Gordon got news of his win.
Goliath fell, exposed to the world,
‘Scottish Fools’ admitted their sin.

A conflict of interests it could well be said,
When supplier and Council unite.
But they reckoned without a good businessman,
Braveheart Gordon, up for a fight!

For years they had traded from Barra to Butt
Their annual profit was handsome,
“No spot-pricing here”, they smugly declared,
As they held all the islands to ransom.

But meanwhile Gordon was fighting our corner,
Revealing the lies and deceit,
Dropping his prices, installing new tanks
Determined to expose all the cheats.

A man of guts and integrity too,
A man with the island at heart,
A man not afraid to give it his all,
Destroying the “contract” for a start.

Town filling stations refused to comply,
“It’s all just a phase”, they were told.
“The prices will stabilise, Gordon’s a fool,
He’ll soon be back in the fold”.

But the OFT were now on the scene,
Looking round, perhaps taking stock,
Fair Fuel Solutions (and D J Macrae),
Had started to make the boat rock.

Words like ‘profiteering’, ‘price- fixing’, and ‘con’,
Were starting to be passed around.
The Norwegian jittered and Campbell was worried,
While Manor was uttering no sound.

Convener and council and most in the chambers,
Couldn’t bring about cheaper supplies,
Did they turn a blind eye to line their own pockets,
And choose to believe all the lies?

A Campbell’s a Campbell, as MacDonalds well know,
Selling his all for mere pence,
But to rip off the island the way that he does,(allegedly)
Really doesn’t make good moral sense.

The Council need savings to balance the books,
They can change to the Highland Fuels brand,
Fill up their buses and lorries at Back,
And save themselves 100 grand.

Now Gordon has triumphed, the ‘Fools’ have backed down,
The low prices are actually real,
And when most of the Comhairle decide to resign,
The island will have a good deal.

So when town prices fall, or if Campbells goes bust,
And Engie’s wallows in lack,
Remember remember the 5th of November,
And keep filling at Gordon’s in Back.

(contributed)