Time called on Millar over 'extremist' Facebook post misjudgment
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A HIGHLAND councillor who quit the LibDems after his fellow members reported him to party executives for sharing extremist material on Facebook has been forced from his seat on the board of directors at High Life Highland.
Drew Millar, who has been a councillor for almost 25 years, serving 10 years with the LibDems, lost his position on the council’s arms length charity, which runs libraries, leisure centres and museums.
In the closest vote possible, members of the full council voted 35-34 to oust the Skye member from the role.
At a meeting on Thursday (December 18th) the council’s Lib Dem leader David Alston called for all councillors to support his motion which called for Councillor Millar to be removed from the board with immediate effect.
Councillor Alston said it was the right thing to do. He said the incident was the second of its kind since 2012.
Councillor Alston said: “Even on the most generous interpretation of what has happened, this shows lack of judgement on important issues relating to equalities.”
The move came after Councillor Millar stood aside from his role as chair of the community safety, public engagement and equalities committee in October, following the Facebook incident. It involved him sharing with friends on his Facebook page images and comments which came from Britain First, an extreme right-wing organisation.
Councillor Millar insisted it was a mistake without malice. Speaking in a slightly quivering voice, he apologised and told the committee: “I shared this without researching what was at the bottom of it, probably because I’m not clever enough. I was probably rather naive.”
He added: “I would say emphatically that I am certainly no racist. I have been part of High Life Highland since it’s germination and I have supported the principle ever since.
“I had the huge honour of being appointed by this council onto this board and I have served it to the best of my ability until today. I can only apologise for being naïve, however I still believe that Nick Clegg is a cretin and I make no apologies for sharing that page.”
Several councillors stood to speak in Councillor Millar’s defence. Fellow ward member, Independent councillor Hamish Fraser, moved an amendment to the LibDem group’s motion, calling for Councillor Millar to remain on the board.
Fort William and Ardnamurchan councillor Thomas MacLennan said the LibDem group’s treatment of the councillor was like an “execution”. It’s like a medieval form of witch-burning. It really is ridiculous,” he said.
Inverness Central Independent Nationalist Donnie Kerr said he had “every faith in Councillor Millar”.
“This does show a damning indictment on the LibDems as a group,” said Councillor Kerr.
“This to me is digging the dirt. There’s more dirt being dug here than in Time Team. You should be ashamed of yourselves. You’ve come to wash your dirty linen in public.”
LibDem councillor Alasdair Christie strenuously rejected the claim, saying the reaction by members was nothing to do with politics.
He said: Yes, we all do make mistakes in life. How many times have we re-tweeted something we shouldn’t have or put a Facebook post and thought afterwards ‘I shouldn’t have done that’.
“And that’s why we accepted in 2012 Drew’s explanation that it was a mistake. I think it’s worthy to note that he has apologised today, but it is not a party political issue as far as I’m concerned.
"It’s about principles, quality, fairness. Four posts were forwarded that were all Britain First material. Have a look at their website, the atrocities in Pakistan this week when those children were slaughtered. Some of the posts on that would actually make you physically sick.”
