A DUNDEE councillor is calling on the city to set aside its historical animosity to Winston Churchill in time to celebrate the 2008 centenary of his election as its MP.

Councillor Neil Powrie says that most of the ill- feeling originates in myth, rather than fact, and he would like to see Dundee’s universities, businesses and the local authority become involved in a suitable commemoration of the connection between the city and the man voted the greatest ever Briton.

Churchill represented Dundee at Westminster from 1908-22, when he lost his seat to the only Prohibitionist MP ever elected in Britain, Edwin Scrymgeour.

However, says Mr Powrie, Churchill was swept away in that election not because he was personally disliked by Dundee voters but because of dissatisfaction with the coalition Liberal government to which he then belonged.

“He has been quoted as saying, after his defeat, that he would love to see the day that grass grows out of the ground through the city’s cobbled streets and the vigour of its industries withers and dies,” he went on.

“In fact, there isn’t a shred of evidence that he ever said that and he was not a vindictive man.”

Churchill’s refusal of the Freedom of the City also rankles in some quarters, Mr Powrie went on.

However, he had already been sounded out on his willingness to accept the honour and it was only the grudging nature of its offering—the move was passed by just one vote—that prompted him to turn it down.

“He was a radical in his day—a radical, brilliant young man who was going to put Dundee on the map,” said Mr Powrie.

“It should be remembered that Churchill and Lloyd George were founding fathers of the welfare state.

“Churchill gave workers their tea break. It was Churchill who introduced widows’ pensions and support for children and unemployment benefit.

“There is nothing in Dundee to show that Churchill represented the city for nearly 15 years.

“May 8, 2008, marks the centenary of his election and I hope that people realise that this is an outstanding opportunity for the city to celebrate one of the greatest men who ever lived, who is renowned and remembered with great affection in every corner of the globe, and to mark his years of service to the city and to the country.”

Mr Powrie said he would love to see a statue of Churchill in the city, though he suggested that the anniversary could also be commemorated with a plaque, a dinner, lectures or even the introduction of a Churchill Scholarship.

“I think it would be appropriate to mark the occasion in a suitable manner and give Dundee a positive boost,” he added.

Mr Powrie can be heard talking about the relationship between Churchill and Dundee in a BBC Scotland radio programme, The Maggot in Mr Churchill’s Kipper, at 11.30am today.