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Criticism of “autocratic” council         5/3/13

Sir,

I am writing to express my total disgust at the decision made by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to ban  from all council owned premises the public petition to save the Barra - Benbecula air service.

It is almost inconceivable that in the 21 century a council within the United Kingdom can behave in such an autocratic way. We, the United Kingdom and in particular Scotland have always prided ourselves on our freedom of speech and our democratic process, however our council continues to behave in a manner reminiscent of Joseph Stalin. Not only have individual councillors but the Council almost to a man, have gone against the wishes of those whom they claim to represent; what an example of Western Isles democracy.

May I also bring to the attention of both the council and the wider public Article 10 of the European convention on Human Rights:

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. This article shall not prevent States from requiring the licensing of broadcasting, television or cinema enterprises.

2. The exercise of these freedoms, since it carries with it duties and responsibilities, may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or the rights of others, for preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, or for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary.

I would suggest that by debarring a public petition from all premises that it owns,  the council is in breach of Article 10, section 1, insofar as that by its actions the council, a public body, are interfering with the freedom to receive and impart information. Further, there has been an allegation that in one location the individual removing the petition also removed the petition sheet that people had already signed and took it with him. I would consider that an illegal interference under the above article.

The council know that their decision is deeply unpopular, divisive and flawed and yet they still plough on regardless. This, unfortunately, is not the first time they have behaved in this manner and just like a school bully, the longer they get away with it the more often they will behave like this.

Economically, the Southern Isles have a difficult enough time and in times of austerity we should be sticking together, however decisions such as these can only divide us: a good example of the old Intelligence principle of 'Divide and Conquer' perhaps? One further thought: -  if the monies that the council receive from the Government was specifically for the Barra - Benbecula air service are no longer being spent on what they were allocated for, will the Scottish Government now recover that money from the council? I hope so.

Neil MacLean

Castlebay

Isle of Barra

 

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