Stifling public debate

Councillor Cleaver has a very contradictory view of ‘free speech’; he claims to back the idea in principle (or ‘principal’, as he puts it) and then proceeds to exhort the elected councillors to collectively tell Jonathan Wills to “shut up” and refrain from expressing his individual views in public (Wills accuses Cleaver of attacking free speech; SN, 24/02/14)

No doubt Gary Cleaver is correct when he states that the SIC does appear to have taken a neutral position regarding the independence referendum.

The strategy is another example of political fence sitting, guaranteed to ensure that the council does not suffer the consequences in future of betting on the wrong side. So be it, but….

Not so long ago Liberal Democrats dominated, and the Shetland public had a clearer idea of the policies and direction of those in power at the town hall.

The affiliations of the current ‘Independents’ are now much more difficult to determine, and debates tend to be parochial, without taking into account the bigger picture.

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It is, therefore, all the more important that all individuals should be encouraged to express their views in public – even if they happen to be elected members of Shetland Islands Council.

It should be a matter of concern that Councillor Cleaver is hell-bent on stifling public debate while our elected MP and MSP are encouraging more public discussion.

It is the dictatorial council member for the north isles who should be censured for his crass attempts to lead SIC along the road to fascism, and they as well as the communities in the north isles which he represents, should be telling him so.

Mike McDonnell
Old School
North-a-Voe
Yell