United Against Separation
by BILL HEANEY
David Hamilton deserves credit for saying what far too many people in public life seem unwilling to say.
There are still serious unanswered questions about the handling of the SNP finances investigation, including conflicting accounts between Police Scotland and the Crown Office over key decisions.
The public is entitled to know why decisions were taken and how they were reached.
That is why the Scottish Information Commissioner’s determination to push for greater transparency matters.
He has already shown that he is prepared to stand up to the Scottish Government when it obstructs the release of information.
There are still serious unanswered questions about the handling of the SNP finances investigation, including conflicting accounts between Police Scotland and the Crown Office over key decisions.
The public is entitled to know why decisions were taken and how they were reached.
That is why the Scottish Information Commissioner’s determination to push for greater transparency matters.
He has already shown that he is prepared to stand up to the Scottish Government when it obstructs the release of information.
Now he is making clear that the same standards must apply to the Crown Office and Police Scotland where the public interest demands it.
That is what real independence looks like.
That is what real independence looks like.
Some of the self-important people on West Dunbartonshire council have banned the Dumbarton Democrat from speaking to their spin doctors.
Too much of Scotland’s public sector has developed a culture of secrecy, defensiveness and delay.
In West Dunbartonshire, we even have the disgraceful situation that The Dumbarton Democrat has been banned from asking questions of the local council.
David Hamilton is right to challenge that culture — and he deserves support for doing it.
David Hamilton is right to challenge that culture — and he deserves support for doing it.
Top of page, centre: David Hamilton, the Scottish Information Commissioner.
It’s dead simple. Scotland’s public sector is rotten to the core.
Corruption, dead hand inefficiency, troughing and all wrapped up with secrecy is where its at. And keeping the lid on it is what the Standards Commission and the Scottish Government have been all about as exposed by the recent Fiona Higgins judicial review decision.
Undernoted is a link to a recent article that sets out in layman language examples of elected representatives.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/councillors-removed-kangaroo-court-highlighting-37555733
Of course this journal knows only too well about how council officials seek to restrict free speech with their banning of the Dumbarton Democrat.