Senior councillor says Burr must stand down as Returning Officer
A veteran councillor has written to colleagues saying he is worried about the reputational damage to Western Isles Council after claims of political bias involving its Returning Officer.
Councillor Norman Macleod said council chief executive Malcolm Burr should temporarily step aside as Returning Officer until an inquiry is held.
He said the move would be “a neutral action” which would not imply guilt and would not impact on Mr Burr’s role as chief executive.
The call for the top official to relinquish election duties came after it emerged Mr Burr attended a meeting with Scottish transport minister Derek Mackay where SNP candidate Angus Macneil was present. No other parliamentary candidates had been invited.
Non-SNP councillors and transport campaigners were also kept in the dark about the time and venue. One Uist councillor, Ronnie Mackinnon, says he was told by Transport Scotland that invitations were being handled by the SNP office in Stornoway.
Several councillors now say Malcolm Burr must stand down as Returning Officer after allegedly failing to maintain political neutrality
Cllr Mackinnon said he then warned Mr Burr beforehand that minister Derek Mackay’s visit was an SNP-organised stunt for the benefit of Angus Macneil.
The beleagured chief executive insists he was invited by a civil servant at the Scottish Government but has still not explained why he stayed while Angus Macneil, the sitting MP, was the only political candidate present.
However, a Labour Party insider has hit back saying: “I believe Malcolm Burr got an invitation from the Scottish Government. That is not the issue. The issue is that getting an invitation is no excuse for abandoning the neutral stance that other Returning Officers in this country are proud to be known for.
“Malcolm Burr should have immediately gone up to Angus Macneil and said: ‘For some reason, no other political candidates were invited to this meeting and we are in the run-up to an election. Either you leave this meeting now or I will.’ Malcolm did not do that and that failure to act fairly means he should now let someone else take over.”
Over the weekend, several councillors expressed fears that unless Mr Burr steps down quickly the islands will be seen as failing to conduct electoral affairs in a fair way. One said: “This is going to blow up into a national issue because it is so serious.
“So we have to act quickly. How can any other electoral candidates now trust the fairness of the Returning Officer if we just let this go?”
Meanwhile, a leaked memo to all island councillors on Saturday night shows the concern expressed by Norman Macleod, a longtime councillor and the last chairman of the former Northern Constabulary’s police committee.
It said: “I am deeply alarmed about allegations that suggest that the ministerial meeting was arranged by a political party and that our council was represented at the highest level – giving the impression that we favour one candidate over others.
“This serious matter has already received extensive local media circulation. I believe we must act decisively to allay concerns which will undoubtedly emerge next week.
“I fully believe it would be appropriate for Mr Burr to temporarily step aside as Returning Officer until a full, independent inquiry is held and all the facts about the ministerial meeting are established.
“This is a neutral action and does not imply guilt. This move would not impact on Mr Burr’s role as our chief executive.”
Cllr Macleod also said that the Permanent Secretary of the Scottish civil service should hold a similar inquiry into the behaviour of the civil servants who attended the meeting on Uist, adding: “… clearly that is a matter for the Scottish Government and not our authority.”
He concluded: “I hope that members can quickly agree to this proposal and that we can move forward and allow the democratic processes of the General Election to proceed without anyone having any concern about our handling of matters.”
Transport Minister Derek Mackay’s office turned the heat back onto Labour saying they should apologise for “their shameful and dishonest smears” against local council officials who have no right of reply.
The statement from Transport Scotland said: “The ministerial meeting was not party political, indeed, it was attended by the leader of the council who is not SNP. The Transport Minister’s visit was inclusive and extensive and Cllr Mackinnon himself attended two of these meetings and, incidentally, never made any mention or request to attend the meeting at Storas Uibhist which he was aware of.
“Had Cllr Mackinnon asked to attend he would have been very welcome. It is regrettable Labour want to create fights instead of working with us to create jobs, secure investment and improve local services.”
The row now threatens to overshadow Scottish Labour deputy leader Kezia Dugdale’s campaign visit to Stornoway tomorrow (Monday). An island Labour Party association spokesman suggested she would probably have plenty to say about the allegations concerning the Returning Officer’s conduct.
Several other councillors expressed their concern saying the Returning Officer should step down but did not want to be quoted as it was the Sabbath.
Ealasaid Macdonald, the agent for Labour candidate Alasdair Morrison, said: “Alasdair has written to the Returning Officer asking for an explanation as to why he compromised himself by playing fast and loose with electoral law while ignoring a warning from a councillor who was effectively debarred from a meeting in his own ward.
“Calls for an inquiry are legitimate as we need transparency and openness. Scottish civil servants and a Returning Officer at an SNP political jamboree beggars belief.”
Mr Burr did lots of fly posting for the SNP accompanied by M Drummond in the WI just before he went to Orkney. And financially supported the Branch on a number of occasions, including many Sales of Work.
oh my golly gosh…..
That would be before he was the Western Isles CEO and Returning Officer, though, so surely doesn’t signify.
This is extremely damaging for the council Chief Executive, and it is difficult to see how he can continue to hold on to his post with the council, never mind the sideline of Returning Officer. RO’s must be above the hurly burly of the political fray, and clearly this is not so in this case. By aligning himself so closely with the SNP he has rendered himself unfit for the job and created an atmosphere of suspicion about the democratic process.
It never ceases to amaze me how you do politics in the Western Isles, and I would not be surprised if this latest scandal makes the national news.
Don’t ask MacNeil to validate this as he was a member of the Tory party during that period.
This is not the first time Burr has done malicious Manford’s dirty work, he is now seriously damaged goods. His pals in the Scottish Parliament better find him a new job quickly!
He was so sure of a “Yes” vote that in his disappointmen he has thrown caution to the winds.
The mendacious Manford will let him stew.
I am so pleased that Ronnie has taken a stand against the bullying and bluster of Angus Brendan and Manford, both of whom are incapable of playing with a straight bat, and they have now landed the Returning Officer in deep trouble.
We know the dubious duo only too well down here, the only place that has still to wake up to their treacherous behaviour is Stornoway and the surrounding area, which seems to accept their behaviour as normal.
No doubt the deluded masses up there will turn out as usual to vote for this embarrassing waste of space on the 7th of May, and inflict him on the rest of us for five more years.
What a weekend of scandal it’s been, but the Chief Executive was not the only one from the council who went to those meetings with Angus Brendan, my friend’s husband who works on the ferry said there was boatloads of them went down at our expense and that should be looked at too.
I suppose Angus Brendan is setting himself up for the job when he loses the election and we might see more of him. I went down town Saturday afternoon, but not a sign of him, someone said they are keeping him under a creel, Tolsta style, until it is all over for him.
The Labour people were giving away free balloons in the Narrows, and I was tempted to take one along to the sad, forlorn looking MSP at the other end to cheer him up, but himself would not let me.
I suppose one positive is that we will not have to put up with all Angus Brendan’s talk of the 4G spots and fuel discounts which everyone knows it was Callum Iain and FFS who got it for us.
Finally, on no account try to go anywhere by ferry, it is going to be chaos!
Poor Malky, if he didn’t turn up he would have been accused of doing nothing, when he does turn up he is accused of showing favoritism, damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t..
“giving the impression that we favour one candidate over others” oh hoots mon!
Was not the Comhairles convener not a Labour Parliamentary hopeful, how does that work?
Also, before I forget, is this the same Norman MacLeod of ex Scottish Fuels fame?
The same Norman MacLeod that sat beside Mr Chambers told us that it was right that our petrol and diesel was 15p more expensive than anywhere else?
Bit of a cheek of him asking anyone to stand down.
Scottish fuels infamy surely???
Funny how desparate Labour are getting they will try and discredit anyone who disagrees with them. Sad individuals who show all the attributes of LOSERS.
Norman Macleod, Scottish Fuels and well known Labour activist, Ronnie Mackinnon another well known Labour activist. Honesty and truthfulness if you can, please.
When did they become members of the Labour Group?