'Time to let go' — Lord Provost John Letford to stand down in May
Dundee Lord Provost John Letford is to step down at the next election, because at the age of 76 he feels it is "time to let go."
Mr Letford became lord provost in 2001.
- Published in the Courier : 08.09.11
- Published online : 08.09.11 @ 12.03pm
Mr Letford, who represents Lochee as an independent, said: "I've loved it, but I'm conscious of the fact that I've been around for a bit.
"I'm sure I'll wonder if I'm doing the right thing the nearer it gets to May, but it's the decision I've made.
"I've not been put under any pressure by anyone — either politically or privately. It's my own decision."
There have been numerous highlights, and lowlights, in Mr Letford's career.
In 2001, he was famously ejected from the Scottish Parliament after branding the then transport minister Sarah Boyack "a disgrace" in a row over trunk road maintenance contracts.
Mr Letford said: "We decided to have a silent protest but it didn't stay silent. She was asked a question and gave such a bland response and I found myself standing and shouting.
"The presiding officer asked me to sit down and be quiet, but I didn't and two burly guards came along, put their hands on my shoulders and asked me to accompany them out of the building. I became a bit of a hero after that!"
In 2009, he quit the Labour group — ultimately handing power to the SNP on the council.
He said: "The decision to leave the Labour party was not easy — I'd been in the union and the party for a long time. But I was becoming increasingly disillusioned with the Labour party. Nationally, I was deeply distressed at Labour's decision to invade Iraq and, locally, there were occasions when I was undermined."
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