The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
‘Slap on wrist’ for Tory councillor exposed as anti-snp Twitter troll
Asenior Tory councillor who was unmasked as the man behind an anti-snp troll account is free to run again in May’s local elections after being given a “slap on the wrist” by party bosses.
Derek Wann has been ordered to attend “ongoing social media training” but will otherwise face no sanctions from the Scottish Conservatives.
It means the scandal-hit politician, who quit his role as the council’s children and learning convener after being outed for his online behaviour, is free to stand again as an Angus councillor and possibly take up a role on the ruling administration.
Asked whether he would be fighting to retain his seat in the Arbroath East and Lunan ward in May, he said only that the selection process “can be pretty lengthy and I’ll come back to you with confirmation as soon as I’m able”.
We revealed earlier this year how Mr Wann was running a Twitter troll account fashioned after the Lady Whistledown character on the popular Netflix series Bridgerton, despite repeatedly denying any involvement.
The (Lady Whistledown) Angusfreeofsnp profile – which shared the nom de plume of an anonymous newsletter columnist on the hit show – had been used to dish out targeted abuse at local politicians and content described by opposition councillors as “misogynistic and transphobic”.
Among the posts were disparaging comments about the appearances of prominent female politicians, remarks mocking Dundee’s record on drug deaths and arguments with members of the public who challenged Mr Wann on his public account.
The Conservative councillor had previously campaigned against online bullying and was linked to the “Angus, think before you type” initiative.
A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives confirmed it is “monitoring the situation closely” but other than the bizarre instruction for Mr Wann to attend social media classes, no further punishment will be issued.
“Councillor Wann was told his behaviour was unacceptable, he apologised and will be required to take part in ongoing social media training. The party will monitor this situation going forward,” he said.
SNP MSP Joe Fitzpatrick called on Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross to “seriously reconsider” the party’s decision and immediately sack Mr Wann.
He said: “Derek Wann said some abhorrent things on his Twitter troll account, comments that were miles away from what is befitting of an elected representative. The Tories should have come down hard on him, but instead he gets away with a slap on the wrist.”
Mr Wann did not respond to a request for comment on Mr Fitzpatrick’s remarks.
We reported previously how posts on the Lady Whistledown profile were frequently aimed at the SNP.
Others questioned the leadership of Douglas Ross and the Scottish Conservatives’ Scottish Parliament election campaign.
The unmasking of Mr Wann as the man behind the account left the administration on Angus Council on the verge of collapse, with the ruling group and Mr Ross facing pressure to sack him.
With the council already in turmoil, we revealed a second Conservative councillor, Braden Davy, was running another antisnp troll account.
Mr Davy stepped down from the ruling administration in July.
He has subsequently been investigated by police for using the account to coach unsuspecting members of the public to “tactically vote” for him and other Conservatives in May’s Scottish Parliament election.
The Scottish Conservatives talk a good game when it comes to the rancid cyber abuse polluting Scotland’s political culture. The party has repeatedly demanded First Minister Nicola Sturgeon distance herself from the wilder fringes of the nationalist movement and lamented the angry tone of the independence debate.
But talk is cheap when it comes to promoting civility in political discourse – it is action that counts.
Now a local example has emerged which suggests the reality of the Tories’ commitment to stamping out vitriolic abuse does not match their rhetoric.
Earlier this year, The Courier unmasked Conservative councillor Derek Wann as the man behind a notorious troll Twitter account.
The Angus representative had used the anonymous (Lady Whistledown) Angusfreeofsnp profile to launch a series of attacks on his political opponents.
If it had not been for this newspaper’s investigation, it is likely Mr Wann would still be involved in this diet of abuse.
Once we had exposed his behaviour, however, he apologised and Tory bosses seem content to allow him to continue to represent the party with only the mildest of slaps on the wrists.
It is a situation which reeks of double standards. Does anyone really believe the Tories would consider this an acceptable response if it involved an SNP councillor?