It has been brought to my attention that the SNP Comhairle Group has been criticised for working in the best interests of those communities they serve by scrutinising decisions of Comhairle and by seeking to change Comhairle policy.
Councillor Norman Mac Donald (Sgìre an Rubha) described the elected councillors who form The Comhairle as following terms. “An uncaring, our-of-touch majority of elected members (but not the SNP group, obviously) had decided to refurbish the council chamber in the middle of the COVID-19 crisis, ignoring the more pressing needs of the local economy.” Councillor Norman MacDonald is to be applauded for his honesty, although harsh on himself, as he forms an intrinsic part of what he describes as the “uncaring, out-of-touch majority”.
It is clear from these statements that change is very necessary and long overdue. Councillor Norman MacDonald singles out the minority SNP Group as not forming part of an uncaring, out-of-touch majority and the truth of that statement is acknowledged. It is equally clear that we must seek change at every opportunity so that the number of uncaring out-of-touch councillors becomes the minority. We as SNP Comhairle Group of elected councillors must always seek to work in the best interests of the electorate on whose behalf we seek to change policy. We must work to ensure that the SNP Comhairle Group becomes the majority and that the uncaring, out-of-touch councillors become the minority.
Cllr Gordon Murray, leader of CnES SNP group
A journal written by the SNP opposition group on the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council).
