Villagers Defend Suspended Councillor

Extract from the Dumbarton & vale of Leven Reporter 21 February 2007:

Shock & Anger: Villagers Defend Suspended Councillor

Disgust and disbelief were the reactions of constituents reeling from the news of a councillor’s suspension. SSP councillor Jim Bollan was handed a six month ban from the Standards Commission for Scotland after a hearing ruled that he acted in a threatening and intimidating way towards a care worker during a six month sit-in at Alexandria’s Leven Cottage care home.
Cllr Bollan denied the claims, stating he was acting to protect the interests of pensioner Annie Cardiff, who had asked him to serve as her advocate. Hours after the verdict, the Reporter’s Kirsteen Paterson visited Renton to ask people for their reaction.

Pensioner Minnie McDonald regualarly spots Cllr Bollan when she stops at the Carman Centre for tea & a chat. Minnie who plays bingo at Leven Cottage with Annie Cardiff & Robert Toole twice a week was stunned by the news. She said: “ That’s ridiculous. Ive been in Renton nearly all my days and he is a good person. The Cordale Avenue woman, who supported the sit-in added. “ I’ve heard about the things he is supposed to have done and I think what has been done to him is harsh. He is a fabulous councillor and I’ve never heard anyone around here say anything against him.”

Jim Liddle thinks the move is inexplicable and says he cant believe the allegations made against Cllr Bollan. The sixty year old who lives in Dumbarton but makes frequent trips to the village said: Jim doesn’t carry on like that, he’s one of the best. I remember way back when he used to work in Dumbarton and they sent him out to Renton to work. He is cool headed, this doesn’t sound like something he would do.” He added: “ A six month ban is too much. They shouldn’t do that its just not fair.”

Voluntary worker Rosemary Brennan blasted the ban. The 63 year old told the Reporter thst she believes Cllr Bollan’s testimony. She said: “This is a disgrace. Ask Jim to do anything for you and he will. He talks to everybody and has time for them. This is terrible. He is very truthful and at that time no-one should have spoken to Annie without him. She needs to have someone with her. I would stand by Jim to the end. Most people would.”

Community activist Archie Thomson also supports the censured politician. But the Renton man said that the suspension was a done deal. He said: “ I was not surprised by the ban or the term. You don’t get fair trials in these situations. Jim was forced into action he shouldn’t be involved in by bureaucrats who wanted to sell people’s home from under them. He was standing up for his constituents when the council was trying to rob them. Faceless bureaucrats from Edinburgh who come here to pontificate do nothing for democracy.”

For more info access Bollan's Blog at http://www.jimbollan.blogspot.com

MSP's set sail for nuke-free future

Morning Star, 20/02/07

SCOTTISH Socialist MSPs Rosie Kane and Frances Curran boarded the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise on Monday as it sailed from Greenock to Faslane as part of the "Trident - we don't buy it" campaign.
Both MSPs are veteran anti-nuclear campaigners and are strongly opposed to new Labour's plans to renew Britain's nuclear missiles based on the Clyde.
Both were arrested at the Faslane nuclear base last month during a peaceful protest against the plans.
"We are pleased to join the Greenpeace protest which adds to the mushrooming opposition to Blair's nuclear weapons madness," the MSPs said in a statement.
"We need more homes, free school meals, free public transport and an end to privatisation - not more spending on war and nuclear missiles.
"It's time to get the missiles out of the Clyde and end our involvement with Britain's weapons of mass destruction."
The Arctic Sunrise trip is part of a week of national protest building up to the massive Stop the War demonstrations in London and Glasgow on Saturday.

(More on this in Colin Fox MSP's Blog)