Stung by a torrent of criticism for doing and saying nothing about fuel prices, Western Isles Council finally managed to get out a statement today. In it, Councillor Kenny Murray, chairman of the Comhairle’s Fuel Action Group (FAG), issued a bizarre missive claiming the Comhairle has “long been in the fight” to get lower fuel prices for consumers in the Western Isles.
Er, excuse me, when? Not recently, they haven’t. In a most untypical lapse, he completely fails to list a single thing that the comhairle leadership has actually done in the last year or two to bring down prices. Yes, we know about the hosting of cosy chats with Sam Chambers, from which – to their eternal shame – the public who elected them and who pay for their building were disgracefully excluded.
Mr Murray goes on: “It is very welcome that recent developments have seen prices come down and I commend all those who have worked to bring this about – including retailers, campaigners, our MP and MSP and my colleagues on the Comhairle. This is a complex issue but I hope sustainable supplies at lower prices, with a reduced differential between island and mainland prices, will continue.”
The cohort of pliable councillors who do the bidding of the unseen leadership sprang into action soon afterwards. One of them sent a secret memo to all councillors saying that Kenny Murray had spoken about the council’s position therefore the ordinary councillors had to “consider the merits” of speaking out as individuals. It was, many councillors reckon, a shabby attempt to gag them.
There are councillors who are honourable and who don’t fall for these veiled threats. One said: “I did not stand for the council to do what Angus McCormack wants me to do. I will do what my constituents want me to do – and that is not to listen to the likes of him.”
Another said: “People should know that very powerful people are trying to gag us. They are feeling the heat. We all know who this is coming from. So do most islanders now, thank God.”
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Scottish Fuels has called a secret meeting of all island retailers. There, they will be told in no uncertain terms how much they stand to lose by going for spot price fuel.
If the filling stations decide to completely part company with Scottish Fuels and tear up the contract, they can expect to be warned there will be no more cash for renovating their forecourts, none of the unspecified “support” that the Irish crooks have given them for so long and no more of the notorious sweeteners that their most vicious operatives doled out as a bonus when the annual festival to celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus draws near.
Make no mistake – the fightback by Scottish Fuels has begun. They are unscrupulous people and they don’t like losing. That has been proven in courts of law. They will do whatever it takes.
Judging by the noises today from the leadership of our own council, Scottish Fuels has nothing to worry about.
extremely concerning when “fag” is reputedly in charge of fuel.Still it could be worse,they could assume the pseudonym “fafs”.Although this has a ring of truth,”friends of fuel suppliers” is not exactly the team you want representing the islands need for fair fuel priocing
a bland statement is better than none at all…however, would all of this have reached this stage if gordon hadn’t taken the action he did?
There is no great mystique about the councillors working as a cohort, as they might see it…I would have liked individual responses…and I still feel gordon should have been recognised for the brave step he took…. the grass roots FFS should be given maximum support also…there is much to pursue, particularly the cost of domestic oil, that potentially leaves the homes of the less well off, underheated.
Does this mean the ‘dishonest’ ones haven’t?
When I was a very young I remember being told “anyone can become a councillor or leader. I am beginning to believe this was true after all.
Renovation of forecourts,the shining example that is campbells would suggest somebody is saving the bungs for community projects,not!
Councillor Philip Maclean says ” the Leader temporarily left a budget cuts meeting he was chairing in Tarbert tonIght when a question was asked about cost of fuel”
Tsk tsk Hearachs asking reasonable questions. What next? His position is untenable. For his own sake he should step down or aside as they do at Auntie Beeb
Anyone know what price they pay for oil at The Masonic lodge? Might explain some of the silence for the Comhairle and HIE whose remit extends to anything and everything thats not controversial.
Discounted price after ‘special’ discount, of course. Archie knows.
With regard to “Honest Councillors”, it seems to me that they are not honest at all. If they were being honest they would know that they are elected to represent the views and wishes of their electorate, and that nobody, other than that self same electorate, can tell them to shut up about anything.
They are not there to represent any political party or any pressure group such as fuel retailers or wholesalers, or even the church. They are meant to speak out, at all times, to obtain the best deals and conditions they can for their electorate. If they feel unable to do that, for any reason, including being involved in fuel retailing or wholesaling, then, if they are honest, they should resign forthwith.
I don’t think any of us are surprised by GB Oils rallying the oil barons or Campbells grip of the councillors. Why is McCormack acting as the chief whip for the oil barons ? What is in it for him ?
What might help is if Willie Fulton asked the two main parties for their position. I don’t see either being party going against the people.
For flips sake!!! Surely any Councillor worth his salt is going to refuse to allow himself to be gagged! What a weak insipid bunch of nancy boys (and a few girls) we have “working” for the community.
If Gordon has the guts to put his head above the parapet and stand up for what’s right, why on earth can this shower of cowards not do likewise.
Absolutely agree with Guga they should resign, and the sooner the better!
calm down everybody !! We dont know yet what the majority of councillors have said to angus maccormack if anything. They might have told him to get lost .I hope so. its a bit late for him and kenny murray claiming to say they speak for the councillors. they most certainly do not. they have done begger all to earn that right. but there are weak councillors in there who will now cave in and keeep quiet. stand firm , D J . its up to us to have a go at them in the street .
kenny murray’s statement covers all councillors I assume,so nobody needs to be asked where they stand. they all obviously support this wonderful movement towards equitable fuel prices….transport and domestic….think of the savings they’ll make heating buildings, schools etc etc…..fuel is a massive proportion of expenditure and without doing figures the budget savings must be significant.
If this ‘fuel co-operative’ rolls on then it could instill confidence in the population to challenge many other aspects of ‘island surcharge.’
Well said Willie Fulton. I wish all of the comments were like yours based on reason and fact. It actually takes away from the strength of the emerging case when comments are simply venting, perhaps understandable, frustrations aginst councillors in general and individual councillors in particular. Stick to facts, keep party politics out of it and don’t personalise it – however tempting to do so. Is there a Deputy Council Leader who can speak for the Comhairle in the absence of the Leader when he has declared an interest in any particular subject?
willie fulton – interesting point you make. however, if angus campbell really does as you suggest support lower fuel surprises then why is he consistently the most expensive retailer ?? last to come down and the first to go up .
he has also been bad mouthing gordon and the campaigners. exactly how does he support lower prices. i think we should be told – from his own lips.
Its about time we started judging these people on their actual actions not on what they themselves claim to be doing . they are full of BS .
ps – i am so disappointed in mcormack, i alwys thought he was one of the good guys . he obviously has some political ambition left within the council. sad.
does it really matter if one or two, no matter who they are, don’t support the current campaign, which is born of frustration …….and then the realisation that something can be done about it?
at they end of the day we are the consumers and they are dependent on us not the other way round……this is all about community spirit and determination to call a halt to what were becoming crippling prices for many, particularly the disadvantaged.
The complete and absolute conflict of interest of the Council Leader (the whole community are aghast at the scale of, hitherto,”hidden”-though not too subtly- profiteering, and are demanding answers from Scottish Fuels and the retailers…he is a businessman out to maximise his profits) should necessitate he stands completely to one side whilst this whole saga is investigated.
It is but ONE issue and I’m sure he, as Leader, needs to focus on the rest of council business (budget cuts, etc) in tandem with this inquiry.
As do the rest.
When it is revealed how much collusion with SF any of our elected officials had, how they stood to benefit and whether they thought it fair to put their own interests before those of the electorate on the provision of such a massively important, basic, commodity; then we (the same electorate) have the powers to apply the ultimate sanction.
It is better to balance up everyone’s overall performance as a councillor, giving the required “weight” to the important issues affecting them, before deciding what to do next.
Apparently Hitler was a bit of a bastard, but they say he made the trains run on time.
Certain of the electorate may forget the fuel issue, and the complete inaction by ALL elected officials over the years, simply because they got a new lamp-post outside their house.
Somehow, when all the dust has settled, I doubt it.
Well done to Gordon for tacking the issue head-on, well done to Willie for asking councillors to put themselves ‘on the line’, and more fool us if reward apathy.
Campbell should resign, Its time the gazette got a backbone and exposed this to the masses!
Cllr Kenneth Murray Chair of the Comhairle’s Fuel Action Group, speaking on BBC Radio Highland at 12:55 today said (along the lines) “I do not think the Comhairle can take any credit for the current lower fuel prices in the Island, adding that the credit lay solely with Gordon Diesels Services Ltd. A welcome breath of fresh Truth, and although contradicting his Comhairle’s brief Press Release of yesterday I applaud Cllr Murray for having the guts to break ranks and articulate his personal views. He did go on to say that the Comhairle had worked hard in lobbying for the 5p derrogation which whilst welcome seemed to disappear as far as Island consumers were concerned upon introduction.
john maclennan, I know you are trying to be fair to them but its what kenny murray dodnt say that is just as important . yes the council did campaign for a derogation. however when scottish fuels immediately put up the prices by 4p only in the islands to destroy the derogation benefit, did kenny murray or anyone at the council complain. no they sat on their hands and accepted the lies of sam chambers. i want to know how many times scottish fuels has entertained council people and which people. I am hearing rumours.
Has anyone else heard the rumour that our leader is leasing two petrol stations on the mainland from GB Oils ?
Ye gods Onion, that would put the tin lid on it.
As to the rest of you, time has come to stop being fair to the dictatorship/mafia that resides in Sandiwck Road. And who exactly are these ‘very powerful people’ that some councillors are too afraid to tackle in case they lose out on some other back-hander or favours rendered? Barack Obama, he’s a powerful person, so is Vladimir Putin. Dame Judi Dench has got some clout, Sir Chris Hoyle is someone everyone listens to, people sit up straight even when Ant & Dec walk in the room. But Angus Campbell, Malky Burr, Norman MacFireplace, Ian MacRubbish, really…these are not people who will shape world events in the 21st century. I’ll sign the same petition as Tina & Guga to get rid of the lot of them and start all over again (with half the quantity we have now). Anyone who voted for them in May is barred from any future island elections.
Its been a bad day!
surely if this is true it should be listed against his name on the council website. there is no mention of any mainland ventures, mind you there is no mention of the cearns shop either but i dont know if he still runs this.
If these guys are as smart as they think they are they should jump before being pushed after scottish fuels drop them in the sh@t