More evidence of SNP infighting...

Following on from attempts by SNP Councillors to have one of their colleagues removed as a candidate fresh evidence of turmoil within the ranks of Inverclyde SNP has surfaced.

This time the candidate in focus is the little known Professor Alex de Ruyter who is standing in Inverclyde North.

An anonymous press release has been issued, clearly by someone within the SNP, claiming that the "SNP candidate for Ward 3 Inverclyde North is actually an Ozzie who works in England."

Mr de Ruyter is described as an SNP apparatchik with no connection to Greenock. The press release claims that he only joined the SNP within the past year and has been parachuted into the constituency by friends in the party.

It says that Mr de Ruyter lives and works in Cantebury in England and only commutes north to establish visibility and campaign in Inverclyde North.

If - and I have no reason to doubt it - Mr de Ruyter does live and work in the South of England it would interesting to know how he intends to discharge his council duties if he is elected on 3 May.

Perhaps the answer lies in the SNP's manifesto where they talk about streaming Council meetings over the Internet?

The voters of Inverclyde North deserve to know the answer.

Inverclyde SNP breaking election law..

The Council's Returning Officer John Mundell has written to all election candidates in Inverclyde reminding them that posters on display must, by law, have an imprint. Mr Mundell has advised agents and candidates that they must remove any posters that do not not have an imprint by close of business tomorrow (27 April).

Inspection of the posters on display suggests that the SNP are the biggest sinners as they have hundreds of posters across  Inverclyde - including six in my street - that do not have an imprint. I am sure as law abiding citizens Inverclyde's SNP candidates will comply with the Returning Officer's instruction.

I expect to return home tomorrow night to find the posters in my street gone!

SNP at the wind up...

I woke this morning to SNP signs on the lamp posts on part of the street outside my house. Clearly a crack (pot) SNP squad  had been sent in the dead of night on a daring raid to wind me up. There were no signs in the rest of the street or in the surrounding streets.

Personally I thought it was quite funny. Not sure my neighbours will see it that way mind you.

Could it just be the case that the SNP are rattled if they are resorting to such childish pranks?

The week ahead...

Second last week of campaigning this week:
Monday
At work until 1.30 then down to Port Glasgow for some election visits and leafleting.
Tuesday
At work until 1.00 then down to Greenock for an Inverclyde Alliance community planning workshop at 2.00. I have a number of potential meetings in the evening but I might have to give these a miss to leaflet.
Wednesday
At work until 3.30 followed by a briefing by the Chief Executive of Riverside Inverclyde at 4.30. More campaigning in the evening.
Thursday
At work all day with an evening committee meeting, so a night off campaigning.
Friday
Another full day at work.

The man who shot Liberty Valance...

I was reminded of one of my favourite Westerns today when I read the Tory candidate's leaflet for Port Glasgow.

The big man is wanting to take all the credit for the new community stadium at Parklea and has enlisted the Secretary of Port Glasgow Juniors, Peter Loughlin, to vouch for him. Just like the movie however the real hero does not get the credit he deserves.

I know - and David knows - who did the most to bring Port Glasgow Juniors home. He might be able to pull the wool over the eyes of the likes of Peter Loughlin but the truth will win out in the end.

Port Glasgow 'Park and Ride' takes step forward...

I was delighted today to sign off my approval for tenders to be issued for the design and construction of the Council's new £740,000 'park and ride' facility at the site of the former Highholm Primary School site in Port Glasgow. The new facility is being funded by a grant from Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.

The week ahead...

Monday
At work until 2.00 then picking my kids up from school. Out campaigning in the evening.
Tuesday
A full day at work. Hope to attend St Stephen's High School Parent Council in the evening with some campaigning beforehand.
Wednesday
A full day at work. I will be attending the Port Glasgow High School Annual Musical Evening at night.
Thursday
Another full day at work. I am planning to attend the Slaemuir Tenants' and Residents' Association meeting in the evening.
Friday
A full day at work. Campaigning in the evening.