Independents’ Day feels a little bit closer

I thought I’d penned most things in my humble writing career.

Back in my Ayrshire Post days, I ‘ghosted’ The Ingram Slant – a weekly piece by the late Somerset Park legend. At the Evening Times, I turned a five minute telephone chat into the Andy Cameron column. And while at the Daily Record, a promising young Labour MP asked for my help with his weekly column. His name was Gordon Brown. I’ve written the odd poem, song lyrics, a book, umpteen ‘best man’ speeches, a few Immortal Memories and a handful of funereal eulogies. But – this week – there was a first. I sat down to write an election candidate leaflet . . . as the candidate! Three days on – I’m still working on the first of four pages!! I also got hold of my election nomination forms – and asked another candidate how he found the job of filling them all in.

“Oh, the party machine did all that stuff – I just signed them”, he replied. The party machine? That’ll be the laptop I’m writing this sentence with.

I imagine the party machines write their leaflets too. And pay for those adverts in freesheets like ‘Alloway and Doonfoot’s Going Out’. Sadly, an independent’s budget doesn’t stretch that far – so good luck to them all.

I’m more fortunate than most - this is the only page I need to do my talking!

I’d like to welcome Andrew Russell who is standing as an independent in Ayr North.

“I’m challenging a council that will not listen. A council that briefs but does not consult. A council that is simply out of touch with the people it is meant to serve”.

Well said Andrew – and good luck with your campaign.

I’ve heard whispers of another independent standing in Ayr East.

With Chic Brodie there already, Andrew in Ayr North, Hugh Hunter in Prestwick and myself in Ayr West – Independents’ Day feels that little bit closer.