Praise for rival
Published 12 Jan 2012 09:30
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A TOP local Tory councillor has fired the opening shot of the campaign for this year's crunch council elections - by heaping praise on a Labour rival from Barrhead.
Conservative group leader Councillor Jim Swift says local Labour politicians have given Barrhead's Cllr Eddie Phillips a "kick in the teeth" by voting him out of office after 12 years representing the town..
Cllr Phillips was heavily defeated by surprise challenger Kenny Hay in the vote to choose who will stand for Labour in Barrhead in May, and is currently pondering whether to try his luck as an independent candidate.
Jim Swift said the decision to ditch Cllr Phillips was "surprising", commenting: "Eddie is a decent guy who has struggled to overcome a speech impediment, a heart condition and other health problems to still play a full role in the Labour-SNP administration."
He added: "Although I cannot comment on his local effectiveness as a councillor for Barrhead, he did bring in some radical changes around recycling to this council that we as a group broadly agreed with."
"We have not always seen eye to eye with Eddie or Labour, but I find it astonishing that despite them talking about championing people with disabilities and health problems, they have chosen to kick him in the teeth."
This article appeared in Barrhead News 12 Jan 12
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