The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Leader ditched Twitter after trolling scandal
Angus Council’s leader has revealed he ditched ‘toxic’ Twitter days after the Lady Whistledown trolling scandal gripped his administration.
David Fairweather has been silent on the social media platform since July.
His last post was days after friend and ally Derek Wann was unmasked by The Courier as a Twitter troll.
Arbroath Conservative Mr Wann used the anonymous (Lady Whistledown) AngusFreeofSNP account to fire political vitriol at rivals and ridicule local figures.
Council supremo Mr Fairweather is in the final months of his £36,000-a-year leadership of the Tory/Independent administration.
He previously said retirement from the council “can’t come too soon”.
Independent Mr Fairweather’s last Twitter post was on July 8.
It was a retweet celebrating the eighth anniversary of Sir Andy Murray becoming Britain’s first male champion at Wimbledon.
But his account – with 705 followers – remains live.
Now, Mr Fairweather has reiterated his plan to retire.
And, asked if his Twitter silence was connected to the Whistledown scandal, he gave a brief response.
“My decision on not using Twitter was based on that I did not wish, or tolerate, reading toxic questions and bile that gave MANY the platform to spout their own agenda.”
He has now been accused of “having some neck” by one victim of Lady Whistledown’s online abuse.
Brechin Community Council chairwoman Jill Scott was targeted by Mr Wann.
In one tweet around sharing Angus cycling routes, he had said: “Would anyone want to cycle through Brechin?”
She said: “This administration has been hit by one scandal after another under the leadership of David Fairweather.
“He’s got a cheek to say Twitter is toxic when two members of his own administration resigned because of the culture at the top.
“And when this Lady Whistledown thing broke the council leader didn’t do anything to condemn it.
“None of the administration did. They just buried their heads.
“For him to say Twitter is toxic after he sat back despite the behaviour of someone in his administration says it all.”
And while the council leader may be stepping down, Mr Wann hopes to stay on Angus Council.
He is awaiting news of whether he has been selected to mount a defence of his position in the threecouncillor Arbroath East and Lunan ward at next May’s council elections.
The same period during the summer also saw fellow Tory Braden Davy exit the ruling group in a separate social media scandal.
Forfar councillor Mr Davy was behind a Facebook page which encouraged tactical voting in May’s Scottish elections.
Police Scotland said it is still considering the activity on that account.