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Stornoway, Lewis

 

 

MP is “still in denial” over rocket range                        2/2/10

 

 

Councillor Donald John Macsween has responded to the latest claims by the SNP regarding who knew what, and when, about Hebrides Range.

 

He stated: “I knew absolutely nothing about any review of Hebrides Range until I was asked by Comhairle’s chief executive, Malcolm Burr in May 2009, if I knew of the review and how it was progressing.

 

“Mr Burr asked if I could use connections with the UK government to try to find out.

 

“This unusual conduit to government was being used by Mr Burr because there was no feedback on progress from the MP, or the MOD.

 

“I told him I would ensure that the council would get an opportunity to brief any visiting government ministers over the summer.

 

Mr Macsween who is also Labour’s prospective candidate for the Western Isles added: “Events overtook us, however. QinetiQ announced they were to hold a press conference in Benbecula on 17 June 2009.

 

“I travelled down and attended the briefing, along with fellow councillors, including Mr Manford, and, during the course of that conference, it emerged that the MP, who did not put in an appearance, had been briefed on several occasions on this issue.

 

“I expressed astonishment that he had done nothing about it, much to Mr Manford's consternation.

 

“I confirmed this with a verbal question, with the press in attendance, to the officials making the announcement, for clarification. Again, I was told the MP had been extensively briefed.

 

Mr Macsween said: “I expressed my dismay about this in a press release the following week.

 

“The MP denied that my account was correct. So I followed up the issue by e-mail for confirmation to the officials involved.

 

“They replied, in writing, that the MP and MSP had been told - and again the MP denied it.

 

“In October I made a FOI request to the MoD, which I received in January. It confirmed he was fully briefed by Lord Drayson in July 2007. Despite all the published evidence, the MP is still in denial.”

 

He added: “There was no report to the council members on the issue at any time before or since July 07, until the report on June 18th, 2009.

 

“That was when the taskforce was set up and I was voted on, despite the determined efforts of Mr Manford and another two SNP councillors to exclude me.

 

“If Mr Manford was as well-briefed on the issue as he now claims he was, I find it very odd that he failed to mention the issue to me at any time.

 

“This was despite the fact that I was his transportation vice-chairman and despite being with him on an extensive three-day briefing, involving many visits to organisations and workplaces, in Barra and Uist on the 9th to 11th of June 2008.

 

“I also find it very odd that Mr Manford did not, apparently, insist on any action by his MP and the council after the meeting with the then defence minister in Barra in August 2008.

 

“It is becoming obvious that Mr Manford, as well as the MP has some serious explaining to do.

 

“He would also do well to stop spinning before he strangles himself in the tangled web he has chosen to weave “in defence of the indefensible.”