SNP candidate details a dire week for Andrew Bowie
23/02/24
It has not been the brightest few days for Andrew Bowie, writes Glen Reynolds, SNP candidate for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine.
Last Saturday he spoke at a meeting in Laurencekirk about SSEN’s proposed transmission route from Kintore to Tealing.
When discussing people’s views on the proposals, he apparently said, “They are also concerned that the Scottish government, which wields the power of planning consent, won’t consider local objections or indeed requests for local inquiry by councils.”
Personally I feel this statement undermines the whole process of accountability – Mr Bowie seems to imply that the views of local people will be disregarded. The views of local people most certainly do matter however and I would encourage all interested parties to fully participate in the process to make themselves heard, irrespective of Mr Bowie’s pessimism.
Fast forward four days and Mr Bowie appeared on the BBC’s Politics Live programme, in his Conservative government minister guise, where he had a torrid time trying to defend the indefensible.
First it was the current furore over the delays to compensation for subpostmasters and subpostmistresses affected by the Horizon scandal. Then he had to keep a straight face and defend Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch’s claim that trade talks with Canada were ongoing. Canada says trade talks are not ongoing.
Finally he was hauled over the coals because the Conservatives’ rhetoric on immigration simply doesn’t match their actions, as covered comprehensively in the media lately. Their take on immigration is all about public relations and quick headlines. It should be about economic need, fairness and treating people with dignity.
Finally, today, a councillor from Aberdeenshire quit the ruling Conservative group – during an important council meeting – citing bullying, infighting and a toxic atmosphere in her party, also saying she could not support the Conservatives’ “harmful” budget.
And where is the focus of this dysfunction? In the councillor’s words, “This is particularly true in the West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Branch, of the Aberdeenshire Association, where a particular UK elected member’s associates dominate.”
As noted, not the greatest week for Mr Bowie. And it’s not finished yet.