SNP group expels youngest councillor
Maverick member put constituents before toeing the party line
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The SNP’s only Caithness councillor has been expelled from the party’s Highland Council group, it emerged yesterday.
Last night it led to fears among several of his far north colleagues that the move has seriously diminished the area’s influence on key decision-making.
David Bremner, at 27 the youngest Highland councillor, was widely regarded as a maverick for refusing to toe the party line on a range of issues, while insisting the views of his constituents took priority.
His dismissal follows his own prophetic declaration in an interview with the Press and Journal last month, when he stated: “I do not seek to cause trouble, but to properly represent my community. It is for the leadership of the SNP to decide if I am too big a problem.”
The party confirmed yesterday that he was, and that he had been expelled after a disciplinary hearing.
The Highland group’s chief whip, Pauline Munro, added: “It is now an internal matter.”
Mr Bremner, the Landward Caithness representative and civic leader for the area, is believed to be on holiday and was unavailable for comment yesterday.
He is expected to be expelled from the national party in due course and to lose his place on three key committees — transport, education and the fire board — as a result of being disowned by the SNP.
It reduces the power-sharing Nationalists to 17 on the 80-strong authority.
Wick Caithness Liberal Democrat Graeme Smith described Mr Bremner’s expulsion as “an example of the dead hand of corporate governance”.
But, while he doubted that committee membership necessarily equated to influence, others were more concerned.
David Flear, another Lib Dem, said Mr Bremner’s removal from committees was “not a positive move for Caithness” — a view shared by Bill Fernie, an Independent representing Wick Caithness.
Council convener Sandy Park, however, insisted the entire council was “working very hard to make sure Caithness is a success story in the next few years”.
Insisting the coalition remained “very strong”, Mr Park added he would happily talk to Mr Bremner should he wish to join the Independents.
Readers' Comments
Cllr. Bremner's integrity is a credit to him and he has been helpful and sympathetic towards his constituents and always prepared to listen, which has been very much appreciated by many. It is unfortunate indeed that the same old double standards prevail and truth is the victim! Quote, "All truth passes through three stages, First, it's ridiculed, second, it's violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." It's is self-evident that Cllr. Bremner has the mettle to be Independant and why should he compromise regarding what he believes to be right, proper and true?
Yvonne Jones
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David was elected because the people of Caithness believed that he would act with honesty in representing their interests, what a pity others don't wish to listen.
James Moar
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Stands up and applauds. Well Done David. I left the SNP (by my own choice) for similar reasons some years ago. The attitude was oh don't question 'the high heid yins' ever about anything. Well I'd question anyone when I consider their reasoning seriously flawed, sane or questionable, which naturally made me unsuited to SNP Membership. Only a fool would toe the party line, when it is wrong or against the community he/she represents. You are well out of there. More power to your elbow!
Alexander McKay
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He puts himself forward as a candidate to the local SNP promising that he will follow what the group decides. He then gets elected by the work of those members and the money that they raise. He then breaks the promise he made to the SNP once elected under the cover of "standing up for constituents". If I were a constituent why should I trust him after he broke a promise and was elected through the work and money of others. My experience of these mavericks is that they are very good at shouting the odds about "standing up for the people" but don't ever deliver anything concrete for those people because they cannot work with other people as they usually break promises to get attention.
Jim Mack
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