Councillor in plea to standards watchdog
Move follows suspension over ‘frankfurter’ jibe
A councillor rapped for aiming a lewd jibe at a rival has called for the standards watchdog to drop probes into “satire”.
Paul Mack was suspended from local authority meetings for three months after telling a woman councillor she was taking a German fact-finding trip to “play hide the frankfurter”.
He has urged the Standards Commission for Scotland to give protection to those making satirical comments on political issues.
Councillor Mack has tabled a motion to full meeting of Renfrewshire Council appealing for support.
It states: “Renfrewshire Council records that it places the highest value on integrity in public life concerning the behaviour of both its elected members, and employees, but notes that across all 32 Scottish local authorities the Standards Commission for Scotland is, losing its core vision and is mired in trivia to the point of losing its credibility.
“Council notes that much of this trivia currently considered actionable by the Standards Commission for Scotland is an attack on the principle of satire, which in other jurisdictions such as in the USA is classified as protected speech under the First Amendment of the US constitution.
“Council highlights in particular that legal protection against libel, slander, and hate crime, exists in Scots law, and therefore calls on the Scottish Government to review the operation and remit of the Standards Commission for Scotland.”
The Paisley Southeast member is being backed by another independent councillor.
Former SNP man Andy Doig was accused of misogyny and homophobia after a “spoof” email taking aim at colleagues was leaked in 2015.
He was suspended by the party and later brought back into the fold, but was not referred to the Standards Commission.
Councillor Doig left the Nats before the local authority election in May and was voted back in to serve Johnstone North, Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch.
He maintains both he and Councillor Mack have since “triumphed in the court of public opinion” after victories at the ballot box. He says those guilty of hate speech should be prosecuted under the law, but insists people “do not have the right not to be offended”.
Councillor Doig said: “The Standards Commission has become a forum for petty complaints, rather than upholding the highest levels.
“Those breaking the law should face the full force of it.
“At a time when the public purse is under such great pressure from cuts in Edinburgh and London, people want and deserve improved services.
“But they cannot get the money due to spending on quangos– such as the Standards Commission – which are getting increasing amounts.”
Councillor Mack was found to have breached protocol at a meeting in August 2015.
He accused then education convener Jacqueline Henry of “going on the lash” with the intention of “playing hide the frankfurter with the Oberburgermeister”.
The Standards Commission ruled his rant was “inappropriate and disrespectful” due to the use of sexual innuendo.
Councillor Mack declined to comment.