A Dundee SNP councillor has decided not to attend a pro-independence rally in the city this weekend after asking supporters’ views on Facebook.
Jimmy Black said he had been torn over whether to share a stage with disgraced politician, Tommy Sheridan but made up his mind after consulting followers online.
Sunday’s Yes Dundee rally has been part-promoted by Mr Sheridan’s Hope Over Fear campaign leading senior SNP figures in the city to stay away.
Mr Black had said he was torn between a desire to speak at the event to support colleagues he respected and a reluctance to appear alongside Mr Sheridan in any way.
After inviting followers on Facebook to give him advice, he later confirmed he will not be attending adding that a rally organiser’s taunt that more SNP members would attend if there was a bouncy castle was the final straw.
Bob Costello, one of the organisers of the Yes Dundee rally, had posted: “As an incentive to more of the SNP to participate I am thinking of putting up a bouncy castle.”
Mr Black has now asked for his name to be removed from promotional material, much of which has already been distributed.He said: “First of all I am an SNP politician and Bob’s daft post about bouncy castles was provocative.
“He’s talking about colleagues I respect and who have been elected with large majorities by the people of Dundee.”
He said he didn’t want his presence at the rally to be misunderstood as support for the Solidarity politician, and had been persuaded by some of the more “well-reasoned” comments not to go.
He added: “I’ve had enough of all this and on Sunday I will be elsewhere, probably climbing tenement stairs for Shona and Joe and our excellent list candidates.
“If you want another referendum, vote SNP. It’s not going to happen any other way.”
When contacted by The Courier Mr Costello defended his comments saying he had been “very disappointed” with the support from the SNP.
He said: “I made the bouncy castle comment because I feel the SNP are being absolutely childish about this.”
He added that although he personally disagrees with Mr Sheridan’s politics on everything except independence, he felt the politician had served his time for his perjury conviction.
The Dundee Yes Bus Team, and Hope Over Fear will present their Road Map to Independence and INDY ref 2 campaign as part of a family fun day in the City Square from 11.15am to 5pm.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Courier.