Council / Councillors support pledge on civil and respectful politics
ELECTED members in Shetland have backed a motion led by leader Emma Macdonald which called for the council to sign a pledge on respectful and compassionate politics created in honour of late MP Jo Cox.
The motion said: “Robust debate and scrutiny are integral parts of our democratic process but that does not mean that we should not treat one another with respect.
“As leaders within our community we need to lead by example and demonstrate a level of debate that is civil and constructive in tone.”
The motion regarding the Jo Cox Foundation’s civility in public life pledge was signed by the SIC’s senior councillors – Macdonald, Gary Robinson, Dennis Leask, John Fraser, Davie Sandison, Moraig Lyall and Andrea Manson.
It was approved at a meeting of the full council on Wednesday.
The pledge promotes using a “civil and constructive tone” in debate, acting with integrity, honesty and compassion and behaving “respectfully towards others, including those I disagree with”.
Jo Cox was a Labour MP who was murdered in 2016 at the age of 41 outside a library in West Yorkshire, where she was due to hold a constituency surgery.
The Jo Cox Foundation’s website said the organisation seeks to “end the abuse and intimidation that discourages so many from entering political life, and particularly impacts diverse representation”.
The foundation’s civility pledge is designed to urge political candidates to “reject intimidation and abuse” by “running a respectful campaign”.
The pledge has been created in partnership between the Jo Cox Foundation and the group Compassion in Politics.
Speaking at Wednesday’s meeting Macdonald said language and tone can impact “those around us”.
She said the standards are already set in the councillors’ code of conduct, but added that it is useful for elected members to have a reminder.
Lerwick North and Bressay councillor Stephen Leask said it was important to extend this to communication with SIC officers too.
He said there was a recent instance where the term “disingenuous” had been used against an officer, leaving them upset.
Leask said he was disappointed he did not speak out against it at the time.
Macdonald then said members have a responsibility to “check” each other’s behaviour.
Lerwick North and Bressay councillor Arwed Wenger also said that sometimes things are not meant to be said in a bad way.
But Macdonald replied: “The thing is […] we don’t know how our words land on other people. So I think we have to be really mindful.
“I think we just need to be kind and nice to each other, and that shouldn’t be too much to ask.”
Lerwick South member John Fraser also referred to previous comments he made in the chamber about being alarmed that a “thick skin” is at times regarded as a prerequisite for public office.
“Particularly in a time when we actually struggle to see people take up the mantle of being public servants and community leaders,” he added. “And very often that is down to because they know that there’s the potential of being challenged inappropriately or treated in a disrespectful manner.”
Fraser said he has seen this “manifested” in the chamber, in the community and in the local media, adding that it has impacted his own mental health and wellbeing.
He said if the SIC truly wants to encourage a wider, more diverse section of the community to stand for election in future councillors must create a “welcoming” environment.
Fraser also said the topic of behaviour extends beyond the chamber, with a reminder for elected members to conduct themselves appropriately at parent council or community council meetings, for instance.
“You are a representative of this community, you are an ambassador for Shetland Islands Council and I encourage you to behave accordingly,” Fraser said.
Shetland Central councillor Davie Sandison also spoke on the relations between elected members and council staff.
He said officers have no right of reply and said they can take a “heck of a battering”.
Fellow ward member Catherine Hughson also highlighted the impact things can have on people’s family members.
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