A pollster guy called Pete asked me tonight for my views about the by-election and whether I was involved with any candidates.
No, I have no interest in the outcome here other than as a journalist who has now put on his cynical spectacles, taken a sip of bitter and is shaking his head at what our Star Trek style of local democracy really means here.
Let me explain. There are two hopefuls who live in the ward – tour guide Les Mac an Ultaigh (McNulty) and former Johnston Press executive Angus Morrison. Meanwhile, John Norman MacDonald is from Point on the other side of the island.
Les seems like a bright, positive guy but just not high-profile enough in the community to make an impact. People tell me they know him, but not what he stands for.
John Norman of the Scottish National Party too is a personable, if rather reserved, fellow but my own inquiries have found many Lochies unsure who he is, despite his claimed connections with the area. Openly political, he represents the SNP desperately trying to cling onto the ward. Does that make him a Klingon?
Therefore, I must tell you that Angus Morrison, as unexcitable as Mr Spock, shall romp home because he has the benefit of being known as a former boss of the Stornoway Gazette. That, and more importantly, the single line in his election literature noting he is a Free Church of Scotland elder. History tells us those few words make it a no contest. That makes him different, just as a Vulcan’s ears are not the same as ours.
A candidate could be as thick as the two proverbial short planks but a majority in this kind of ultra-presbyterian community will, nay, must vote for him on the sole basis of him being a church office-bearer. It’s democracy, Pete, but not as you know it.
If, in the election, Angus Morrison does ‘romp home’, in what way could this be seen as not democratic? What changes would you like to make to procedures so that local elections such as these do indeed reflect the choices of the local electorate?
Changes such as the electorate voting with their heads; rather than because they’ve been told to vote for him by the MiB. That would be a start, but I forgot, we’re talking about the WI aren’t we?
Ruairidh If I understand him correctly neither Mister X., nor myself I have to say, think the elections are undemocratic. It is the poor choices which blinkered electors make which is so heartbreaking and ultimately leaving this community so poorly governed. If you are the educationalist I think you are, you will have first hand knowledge of ghastly decision making by particularly unsuitable councillors in that sector.
Mr Spock would not have allowed such rubbish to be churned out each week in the Guzette. How dare you compare the good first officer to such a chump.
So…candidates freely stand for election and local people freely choose their preferred option based on whichever criteria they want.
Sounds good to me, Jim.
Why have the SNP now bathed their Klingon candidate in true Tory blue (see Heb News advert)?
I think we should be told, before Thursday!
So funny. Anyone in County tonight
Lochie, you’re having a laugh.It is Sadie Lament, the leader of the London Labour Party (Scottish Branch) that takes her orders not only from London Labour, but from the London Tories too.
It’s not so much New Labour these days as it is New Blue Labour. They even want to implement all the proposed Tory cuts to pensioner’s benefits. This is in addition to being up to their eyeballs with the Tories in their Bitter Together campaign.
The London Labour Party (Scottish Branch) seem to be hell bent on selling out Scotland to rule by foreigners which, as you will be aware, makes them Quislings. It also makes as little difference to me as it apparently does to the London Labour Party (Scottish Branch) whether these foreigners are New Blue Labour or the original BlueTories.
Erm, of course I am arving a larf, you oily spatchcocked sea bird! The Returning Officer might not be so amused, however, since the advert does not carry any identification mark, and is clearly intended to make an appeal to my true blue Tory neighbours, I think it is time for SNP HQ to beam him, and his election agent, up!
Lochie have you started your diet yet, we can’t afford a bigger kilt. I know you mean well but you just do as your told. Everybody know’s that.
How are you doing Chaz? No chance of starting my diet with the festive season coming up so soon, so an extra few notches on the kilt will see me through! I do hope our man Mac an Uilc will make it tomorrow, the thought of Trekkies and Klingons making it to the Whitehouse fills me with gloom.
Kiss of death