You're Gagged

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war's desolation!

Like all National Anthems the Star Spangled Banner has more verses than the one commonly known, in this case song before any sporting or public event no matter what the level. But the lines above coming from the opening of the fourth verse are particularly poignant. Of course the recurring theme through the verses is, the land of the free.

America revels in its freedom, free speech, state free from religion, freedom to bear arms. It's history is full of periods and places were men have gone into the unknown to stake claims on land. Admittedly not all of that was totally unoccupied, the native Americans often suffered at the settlers hands. But now one of those Americans is taking freedom too far and the wrong way.

The American in question is Donald Trump. Last I looked he was not an elected representative in nay part of the UK. He may own some land over here but even then he would only have one vote, if he were to settle etc. However, his latest attempt to get his golf course development through planning is to attempt to ban the four most vocal opponents on Aberdeenshire Council banned from taking part in forthcoming decisions about the development and any use of compulsory purchase orders he is hoping to push through.

Yeah the man from the land of free is not elected to serve the people of Balmedie, where Trump owns the Menie Estate. Indeed George Sorial, the Trump executive running the project, has gone so far as to say:

"Enough is enough. The organisation will no longer tolerate their lack of respect for ethical standards. These scoundrels have to be stopped."

There are a lot of ethical questions that have been raised by this development. Although some where answered last week when the Standard Commission found that Debra Storr had not breached the Code of Conduct following Trump complaints. Compulsory purchase orders for a for profit development. Trying to apply English and Welsh trespass law over Scottish right to roam law. Trying to stop elected representatives from going about their constitutional rights to visit constituents or represent them over a matter that directly affects them. It sounds like the Trump Organisation want a Politburo in the council chamber to do what the supreme one with his floppy hair says no matter what the cost.

• The cost to an Area of Special Scientific Interest.
• The cost to the families, some of whom have lived there for generations.
• The cost to his own reputation.
• The cost to democracy itself.

Yes the cost to democracy itself. If our councils give in to one super rich landlord over his planning applications it sets a precedent. Where does it go from there? Then it will become the landlords who dictate things rather than those who are elected to represent the people. Last I looked we still lived in a representative democracy not some business related reality show where whatever the man behind desk said went.

Like many planning applications before him Trump was turned down when it was first presented. No matter what people, from Trump's Organisation, say it wasn't clear cut. However, Sarah Malone, executive vice-president for the Menie Estate development, says that the four councillors should be prevented from taking any further part because they have ' have not remained objective, which is their duty'.

I love the words that Paul Johnson comes up with to counter that claim to disbar him, Debra Storr, Sam Coull and Martin Ford, he says:

"If Mr Trump continues to complain about people, just because he doesn't like their views, he will be seen as vindictive and, indeed, ridiculous in the eyes of the public.

"It cuts both ways. Every councillor who has expressed support for the
development, on the basis that it is best thing since sliced bread, would also be debarred."

Which could leave a rather echoey council chamber if only those with no preset opinion were ever allowed to take a planning decision. Martin Ford adds:

"It is my duty to raise it and talk about and seek to get the issue addressed in a way that is proper and fair to residents."

For indeed it is the public duty of those elected to stand up for those in the area. To be the voice that is heard to voice their concerns. Trump may be able to trumpet on from his his very public profile but that is not the only voice that needs to be heard. This is a matter for moral judgement as Mike Rumbles MSP has said. If Trump has the lack of moral to bulldozer over democracy before he bulldozers his neighbours compulsory purchased houses he has lost any moral leg to stand on.

I'd say to Trump.

Enough is enough. The residents will no longer tolerate the Trump Organisations lack of respect for ethical standards. These scoundrels have to be stopped.

The Alternative View on Aberdeenshire

rWhen I posted this on Saturday I was expecting quite a bit of backlash to my comments regarding the suspension of Cllrs. Debra Storr, Paul Johnston and Sam Coull. Maybe the worst is being stored up for Perth in less than a fortnights time.

However, as it is in my nature to listen to the other side of the argument I'd direct you to Ruaraidh Dobson's blog post as a Liberal Youth Scotland co-optee unto the exec on a insiders take of proceedings on Saturday. I do however take exception to him saying that the three have badmouthed the Liberal Democrats. The three are Liberal Democrats to the core and that is the crux of this matter, they instinctively know what it means to be liberal and democratic. They have never badmouthed 'the party'.

They have had issues with some within the group with whom they had to work, something that is not unique in large gatherings of Liberal Democrats, and something which they tried to resolve through party channels. Sadly while a mediation was started out upon this action was taken. However, all three still are deeply committed to the aims of the Liberal Democrats something I know from personal correspondence with Debra and Paul, and a sentiment echoed by many other activists across the country.

Also the official line of the exec can be found on Lib Dem Voice and quoted in the Press and Journal.

PS for the kind friend who warned me about the men in grey suits, they haven't turned up yet. But I'll keep my dark glasses, sandals wig and passports handy just in case.

Update 4 March: Cllr. Paul Johnston has made the following comment of Ruaraidh's blog which backs up my opinion that this decision was taken wholly on the evidence of one side.

How many things can you get wrong in one blog. Please, if you want to post
information about what I did or did not do, you can always speak to me.

It is not full of anything that does any of what you suggest.

I am astonished where you might get this kind of view for your blog. If
you are going to publicly remark on my character to suggest that I was
‘badmouthing the Party’ then I hope you might find out from me first, which was
not done at the Executive on Saturday as you have confirmed.

I'm Skunnered

I'm skunnered that the Executive of the Scottish Liberal Democrats have done what they have done.

Debra Storr, Paul Johnston and Sam Coull have been suspended pending process towards expulsion.

They appear to have ignored the intervention starting from Chris White, which was organised by the Federal Party President Ros Scott and at the behest of the Scottish leader Tavish Scott.

Also Debra Storr's complaint raised in November against the Aberdeenshire group leader Anne Robertson's treatment of her, Paul and Martin Ford was also ignored. The fact that 12 days ago it was disclosed in the Press and Journal before it was meant to be discussed at the Exec that there was "no case to answer", sadly doesn't seem to suggest a very democratic process taking place. Update 1 March, 11:42: It has been pointed out to me that the P&J were questioned and challenged about this story which had in fact jumped to gun as no decision had at that time been taken. No retraction or correction has been forthcoming since.

I've been following this case with some interest over the months. While I have blogged about it there is more that I could have said but have not yet written. However, I am still skunnered that what has taken place today took place in the party that I hold dear. I may yet write more on this, I'm undecided as yet.

More to the point this action has been taken against people who have tried to exercise the democratic and correct processes open to them to raise an issue of concern. That they have sought to correct erroneous minutes yet without the support of those who were elected on the same platform. If this is a witch hunt it has sadly got its targets.

However, earlier today I was reading Wardog speculating about fireworks at the Lib Dem conference in Perth in a fortnights. Thinking he was close, from noises I've been hearing, but may well have been barking up the wrong tree as to the reason for that. The witch hunters only have suceeded in winning a short sighted victory.

I'm still skunnered.

Latest Shenanigans in Aberdeenshire

The latest Shenanigans in the Aberdeenshire post-Trumpgate witch hunt is a motion to exclude a representative of the Demoratic Independent Group (Paul Johnstone, Debra Storr, Martin Ford and Sam Coull) from the group leaders' meetings.

Mark Cullen one of the Independent councillors (who ironically band together and have a representative in those meetings) has pointed out the double standards in doing so. While the current motion harks back to an informal agreement in 1995, disbarring groups with less than 10% from attending, between 2003 and 2007 the Independents with only 3 representatives had a representative.

Cullen has said that "personal views seems to have clouded the judgement". From what I have observed those far person views seem to have caused most of the fall out on this issue and the Lib Dem group seem to have been caught up on this and reacted from personal opinion rather than any principles on democracy or liberalism. I know there are a few appeals and decisions outstanding before the Scottish party executive and I trust that these will not be clouded by personal views but will be made in sound judgement.

Trumpgate is a Carbuncle

Well it hasn't even started yet. It has had political fallout of all sorts but it is some pride that I'd like to inform you that Donald Trump's Golf Resort has been awarded the Carbuncle for "the Worst Planning Decision".

The judges awarded it when they condemned the decision to "rip up" planning rules to allow the scheme to go ahead. So it appears that Martin Ford, Paul Johnstone, Debra Storr and Sam Coull have made a stand which is backed by others. It is the principle that this was steamrollered out of the hands of the local planning authorities who had reservations, made recommendations and offered a opportunity for a resubmission that clearly stands out in this category.

The fact that a spokesman for Trump has braded the decision a "joke" shows how little regard the Trump organisation has for the law of the land and local people.

On the matter of "Plook on the Plinth" I'll stand beside Tricia Marwick, SNP MSP for Central Fife, just as I did at the by election count who said:

"I am sick to death of people doing down Glenrothes. I fully agree that we
need more civic space in Glenrothes. However, the problem, as we all know, is
that the Kingdom Shopping Centre and the area surrounding it is privately owned
thanks to decisions taken by previous administrations.

"This has left us with virtually no civic space and a town centre
surrounded by roads."

There are elements of Glenrothes that do stand out as quite the opposite. As do the network of paths for pesestrians and cyclists which are similar to those in Livingston. There are sadly some rather dour parts of town. But I've seen and even campaigned in many other such areas across Scotland over recent years.

The Trumpgate Gang of Four

A new Gang of Four has emerged out of the shocking happenings within the Liberal Democrat group on Aberdeenshire Council

There was another heated meeting of the Council yesterday relating to Donald Trump's golf resort.. This time it was the turn of Paul Johnston to face the ire of his fellow liberal democrats [sic]*.



Cllr Johnston was cleared earlier this month by the Standards Commission. However, it was the support of fellow councillor Debra Storr at the Council meeting on 2 October, 2007. Her claim in defence of Paul that he should be considered innocent until proven otherwise. Led to her being expelled by the Lib Dem council group. However, she appears to have been proven one of the few wise heads in the chamber that day.



Three different proposals were before the council.

• Martin Ford, he who used to chair the planning committee before his casting vote blocked the American tycoon's plans, proposed that a note be appended to the October 2nd minutes that Cllr Johnston has been exonerated.


• Anne Robertson the Liberal Democrat group leader proposed ding nothing citing that taking and action was too difficult.


• The SNP proposed that the decision by the Standards Commission was irrelevant and called for him to be suspended for 6 months.

The Lib Dem group proposal was the one that was finally passed although the Director of Law and Administration in answer to a question said that it was perfectly easy to do what Martin asked. The director saw no issue on doing this on website, in library versions and to all locations where Minutes were regularly sent out. Ford confirmed this best try was OK with him.

The fact that the SNP were actually seeking the suspension of an elected representative who had been cleared by the Standards committee shows a different shocking opinion of democracy. Neither the Lib Dem nor SNP Group come out of this incident in a good light.

Today three of the Lib Dem group Ford, Johnston and Sam Coull left the ruling administration, to join the already expelled Debra Storr to form a new grouping within the council. I now leaves things finely balanced with 34 in the lib dem/Conservative bloc and 34 others including the 4 Liberal Democrats, SNP and independents on the same number.

*I'm deliberately using lower case for the party name in this case.