Father Ted tweet sparks row between councillors

A COUNCILLOR has been criticised for mocking Labour rivals with a Father Ted gag.

Councillor Gregor Murray, convener of Dundee City Council’s children and families services committee, irked opposition councillors by making jokes on social media, tweeting: “Trying to explain to Labour the difference between 2017 and 2020.

“It’s difficult #TheseCowsAreNear #ThoseCowsAreFarAway.”

The hashtag was apparently a reference to a scene in the Father Ted episode “Hell”, in which an exasperated Ted uses a plastic toy to explain to Dougall the concept of perspective and distance.

A meeting saw councillors discuss the planned expansion of early years and child care from 600 hours to 1,140 hours by 2020.

Labour’s Charlie Malone claimed that Councillor Murray posted the tweet as council business was taking place — and said that the councillor should be focusing on debates in the chamber.

But Councillor Murray insisted the tweet was posted after the committee meeting had taken place.

Councillor Malone said: “The convener thinks it’s funny to tweet Father Ted jokes which are clearly targeted at myself and Michael Marra. I think given the fact we’re dealing with serious stuff like nursery provision, to be tweeting this stuff isn’t right.”

Back in July, Councillor Murray was criticised for branding members of a women’s group “absolute roasters” on Twitter. The SNP politician refused to apologise, but later said his language was “probably not acceptable”.

Tweeting is allowed during council meetings but Councillor Malone claims the Labour Group does not use social media during the debates, adding: “There’s a time and a place for humour on Twitter, but it’s happening during debates when people should be paying attention. It’s something I’ll be speaking to John Alexander about.” In response, Councillor Murray said: “The children and families committee had finished and I had tweeted my opinion of how I felt it had went. “Some of the questions from his colleagues were embarrassing. It was clear that once more the papers we were discussing just simply had not been read by some members. I think that is far more disrespectful to our city.” Councillor Gregor Murray

Councillor Murray tweeted an apparent reference to a scene in Father Ted, pictured.