Labour councillor accused of threatening female colleague already investigated for sexual harassment
General
Saturday, 11 February 2012 11:11
By G.A.Ponsonby 
The row over alleged intimidation and bullying of a female councillor by a member of Glasgow Council’s ruling Labour group has escalated today with the news that the chief suspect in the scandal was previously investigated by police over claims of sexual harassment.
Newsnet Scotland can reveal that Labour councillor Gilbert Davidson, who is at the centre of allegations that he threatened the apprenticeship of a former colleagues disabled son in order to get her to back his party in a crucial vote, was arrested in 2010 on charges of sexual harassment.
As reported by Newsnet Scotland at the time, Davidson faced claims that he sent lewd and offensive phone calls and text messages to former Lord Provost Liz Cameron and asked her to share a room with him. The calls were reported to have taken place during a by-election in Drumchapel.
Mr Davidson was charged after Ms Cameron made a formal complaint to Strathclyde police, Davidson was suspended by the Glasgow Labour group but re-instated after the charges were later dropped.
At the time Davidson was already under investigation after being accused of groping another female councillor Ruth Black.
The latest row to hit the scandal ridden local authority has led to calls from opposition parties for a full investigation into allegations of bullying and intimidation within the Glasgow Labour group.
SNP MSP James Dornan, who is also a councillor, has called on Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont to condemn the intimidation of Ms Millar.
Yesterday one of Mr Davidson’s own colleagues admitted that there is a need to find out what happened regarding the claims made by Ms Millar, who said her son’s apprenticeship was used in a bid to persuade her to back the Labour party in a crucial budget vote.
Glasgow Labour councillor Stephen Curran is the chair of City Building, the firm that employs Ms Millar’s son Stephen, Mr Davidson is also a board member.
Mr Curran was responding to angry online reaction after Ms Millar was shown breaking down on TV. Tweeting he said there was a “need to find out what actually happened”.
Speculation had been growing over the identity of the Labour councillor after a TV interview showed a distressed Ms Millar breaking down when describing how she was approached by someone from the Glasgow Labour group who reminded her that he sat on the board of the firm that employed her disabled son.
Speaking to STV news, Ms Millar claimed she was asked to vote for the Labour group “one more time” and claimed she was put under intense pressure to support her former party.
“A colleague spoke to me and said he sat on the board of City Building and asked if my son had an apprenticeship there.
“I asked him if he was threatening my son’s apprenticeship. He can have all the goes at me that he likes but don’t bring my son into it.”
If it is confirmed that Gilbert Davidson is indeed the person who brought up Ms Millar’s disabled son’s employment and reminded her that he [Davidson] sat on the board then pressure will mount on beleaguered group leader Gordon Matheson to take action.
Mr Matheson has resisted calls for him to step down after several high profile resignations from the party. Six Labour councillors left amid accusations that London were dictating local candidate selections. The resignations have left the Labour group with a majority of just one.
The local authority has been plagued by allegations of drug use, nepotism and corruption stretching back to the days of disgraced former leader Stephen Purcell with well paid positions on council controlled firms going to people with connections to Labour.
Public cash is also reported to have found its way into the coffers of the Labour party and high profile donors of the party have benefitted from lucrative council contracts.
Strathclyde Police are currently investigating claims that land was sold by the council at a price lower than the official valuation and that opposition groups who questioned the deal were given false information in response.
Comments
2012-02-11 11:42
As a mother, Lamont, should be on the case! However i doubt it.
2012-02-11 12:31
I think this is disgraceful and there should be an investigation about threats against the lady councillor and her son.
As a mother, Lamont, should be on the case! However i doubt it.
The plain facts behind this disgrace make the matter rather more urgent for investigation. If London Labour have ideed forced sitting candidates to be deselected as unsuitable and these that remain are low enough to threaten the mother of a disabled son with consequences to that son’s job, then just how bad did they think the councillors they deselected were?
2012-02-11 13:22
2012-02-11 15:01
2012-02-11 17:34
Cammeron has already told Scotland if we want any more devolution of any kind, they had better vote YES for INDEPENDENCE.
That is precisely what millions of Scots will be doing.
Moore must have that common LibDem mind set….a death wish.
2012-02-11 19:18
2012-02-11 20:01
2012-02-12 02:11
[Edited to remove unacceptable language – NNS]
2012-02-12 10:56
2012-02-12 03:56
Why accept a few crumbs when we can have the whole bakery
2012-02-12 09:44
Hi bob, have you seen the Saturday Times today with the lead story that Michael Moore is offering us more Tax raising powers only if we say no in the referendum, the way in which i take this is nothing more than blackmail, Westminster is really getting down to dirty and desperate measures now
I think the operative word is “offering”. Offers can be withdrawn, which would be par for the course with this lot. Lang spoons and porridge come to mind
2012-02-11 11:42
There is one thing that crossed my mind,Is it a possability that the council could be having a meeting before may and find themselves in the position of being outnumbered and facing the threat of a snap vote of no confidence?
2012-02-11 12:11
2012-02-11 11:50
Get this right EBC at Pathetic Quay regional office, no matter how much you pray and play foul on trying your distorting Scotland routine, this isn’t going away. The voters will be reminded all the way up to the council elections in may of this. Still waiting to hear anything from Lamont. How rude not to reply to her emails!
2012-02-11 13:07
So it appears Gilbert Davidson has form with threatening women? This must be investigated, independently and free from the grubby clutches of Glasgow Labour council and their kangaroo court of an internal inquiry.
Get this right EBC at Pathetic Quay regional office, no matter how much you pray and play foul on trying your distorting Scotland routine, this isn’t going away. The voters will be reminded all the way up to the council elections in may of this. Still waiting to hear anything from Lamont. How rude not to reply to her emails!
She’s waiting for London to tell her what to say, give her time.
2012-02-11 11:53
Thought she was given control of all of the labour party in Scotland Could this be untrue?
2012-02-11 12:37
Thought she was given control of all of the labour party in Scotland Could this be untrue?
You bet your sweet, “Bippy”, it could be true, (“Bet your sweet Bippy”, quote from the Rowan & Martin Laugh in Show). God I feel old!!!
2012-02-11 12:50
Quoting mato21:
Thought she was given control of all of the labour party in Scotland Could this be untrue?
You bet your sweet, “Bippy”, it could be true, (“Bet your sweet Bippy”, quote from the Rowan & Martin Laugh in Show). God I feel old!!!
If you remember that , you are (gettin auld)son
2012-02-12 09:49
Quoting mato21:
Thought she was given control of all of the labour party in Scotland Could this be untrue?
You bet your sweet, “Bippy”, it could be true, (“Bet your sweet Bippy”, quote from the Rowan & Martin Laugh in Show). God I feel old!!!
Lol Auld Bob, Verrry eenteresting…
2012-02-11 12:03
Malcolm Chisholm, where are you? If you don’t speak up, along with John McAllion, then you will find yourself supporting a party which is prepared put to Devo Max out of sight for the foreseeable future, to destroy the idea of an Independent Nation, to prolong the undemocratic nightmare of further Westminster rule and to undermine the will of the Scottish people.
As for the BBC, SNP HQ must now involve the Council of Europe as BBC Scotland is clearly in breach of the Council of Europe’s recommendations for Public Service Media. It will serve no purpose for us to wait until Patten has had a word with Boothman et al.
2012-02-11 12:07
Also, anyone else know about this £500,000 in Labours budget for ‘colour coordinated seating’ for the council chamber?
2012-02-11 12:43
Also, anyone else know about this £500,000 in Labours budget for ‘colour coordinated seating’ for the council chamber?
Apparently that’s the cost of replacing all the red chairs.
2012-02-11 12:58
2012-02-11 13:13
There should be no question of luxuriating the city chambers further
Luggies and stools would be more appropriate(Old milk parlour requirements) since they seem to do nothing but milk the public
2012-02-12 09:03
Yes, Ms Millar may have heard about the opportunity through the Councils own internal vacancy advertising (this is done in all organisations to provide existing staff carreer progression opportunities), but you go too far Mark to make a baseless insinuation in suggesting that preferential treatment has been given to her son.
I think you should retract your statement.
2012-02-12 09:52
Her son is disabled Mark… there are many schemes for disabled people to gain employment within Glasgow City Council. The sad truth is that disabled people still require positive discrimination measures to get into the workplace.
Yes, Ms Millar may have heard about the opportunity through the Councils own internal vacancy advertising (this is done in all organisations to provide existing staff carreer progression opportunities), but you go too far Mark to make a baseless insinuation in suggesting that preferential treatment has been given to her son.
I think you should retract your statement.
I don’t think so, he’s only thinking of this from another angle. Good on Mark.
2012-02-12 12:44
2012-02-12 13:09
2012-02-11 12:11
Now if the media were at all serving the interests of the Scottish public – this would indeed be the end of the labour junket at city hall. Me wonders how much of this will see the light of day and how much will be reported. Think of the faux indignation when Alex Salmond spoke out about the BBC. This my friends is a real scandal. Will it get as much air?
2012-02-11 12:38
2012-02-11 12:49
2012-02-11 15:32
scottishdemocraticalliance.org/
They already did a great job in regard
asking the Council of Europe to monitor the
Independence Referendum
www.scottishtimes.org/…/
2012-02-12 11:30
“There are specific European guidelines on Public Service broadcasting, and the BBC are coming rather close to breaking them, if they have not already done so?”
Allow me to direct you to the following link and ask as a constituent that you investigate the points raised in the article.
…/skating-on-thin-ice
Thank you.
Best regards.
2012-02-11 12:54
Oh how indeed the chickens are coming home to roost.
Now if the media were at all serving the interests of the Scottish public – this would indeed be the end of the labour junket at city hall. Me wonders how much of this will see the light of day and how much will be reported. Think of the faux indignation when Alex Salmond spoke out about the BBC. This my friends is a real scandal. Will it get as much air?
I agree it is a scandal, but do we know the length and depth of the power of this bunch of gangsters.
2012-02-11 13:36
Keef 2012-02-11 12:11
Oh how indeed the chickens are coming home to roost.
Now if the media were at all serving the interests of the Scottish public – this would indeed be the end of the labour junket at city hall. Me wonders how much of this will see the light of day and how much will be reported. Think of the faux indignation when Alex Salmond spoke out about the BBC. This my friends is a real scandal. Will it get as much air?
It is fully reported in today’s Herald and is likely to be on its on-line edition in which case you can go over and comment on it.
2012-02-11 12:23
When will Johann Lamont be forced by our media to respond and show some leadership?
2012-02-11 12:31
2012-02-11 12:44
At the moment it is meaningless because it is pie in the sky. I wonder if they will also stick with their one question referendum position too. If it starts to look like Yes will win I can see a rear guard Devo question suddenly being perfectly all right to put on the ballot.
2012-02-11 14:08
2012-02-11 19:22
2012-02-11 12:40
2012-02-11 14:57
2012-02-11 12:32
It goes beyond party politics, and stinks of something rotten at the core of the whole BBC/Labour relationship in Scotland.
2012-02-11 12:49
The problems being experienced in Scotland by the BBC will be addressed by the OSCE in an appeal made by the SDA February 8th. Both the head of the Council of Europe and the head of the OSCE have been contacted. It is a done deal.
Why Mr’ Salmond continues to show impotence on these major items has baffled many for months now. No longer. It will be up to the international community to take over the reigns from an administration clearly out of their depth.
2012-02-11 13:01
Here is how the Concise Scots Dictionary defines, “canny” : –
1 – cautious, careful, prudent, astute.
2 – skilful, dexterous.
3 – favourable, lucky, of good omen.
Whit it disna ca it is, “mean” aither wi siller nor mean mindit.
Div ye no jalous yon an afu guid wird fir Eck?
2012-02-11 13:08
Agreed – this is a welcome initiative by the SDA. I am all in favour of as many cooks as possible stirring this broth. If you have a look at the OSCE site you will see that they tend to operate at the level of Government Ministers, and for this reason I think it imperative that The Scottish Government should get involved.
As an aside, I have often posted that the OSCE would be ideally placed to supervise the Referendum. If this is undertaken in conjunction with the Electoral Commission that’s fine. They have a long history of impartial supervision of elections all over the world. Their participation would bring a welcome European dimension to our oountry’s plans for Independence, and Westminster, Foulkes and Forsyth would be unable to contain themselves.
2012-02-12 02:22
2012-02-11 13:28
First point, you like the unionist press conflate the Scottish Government or Parliament with Mr Salmond. If say the Council of Europe were to be contacted it would be as the Scottish Government. It would not be personal.
Secondly, have you and those who are bragging here about the SDA doing ‘what Salmond didn’t’ in contacting the Council of Europe, ever considered for just one tiny second, that the Scottish Government by meeting with Chris Patten are following due process. If they subsequently contact the Council of Europe, then their points are much more compelling as they can point out the fact that despite such meetings regarding the BBC, the undemocratic bias and censoring have continued.
You and your SDA fan club, need to act slightly more responsibly, and give some thought to what is REALLY happening, before cooing to all and sundry about how clever, clever, you all think you are. I think you seriously underestimate the current Scottish Government.
Give it some thought.
2012-02-11 15:40
2012-02-11 15:49
2012-02-11 16:03
2012-02-11 21:41
That said, the SDA are tiny, Dr Wilkie seems like a very well informed guy and is an ally but his organisation is very small, I’m not sure them writing to the CoE will cut much mustard (if that’s even a phrase.)
A wordy website does not a political movement make, although I would after independence be interested to hear their shtick.
2012-02-11 21:59
2012-02-11 22:15
Please read their vile BNP facsimile manifesto.
Are they the dark double agents and political wing of the Scottish Defence League( SDL?) I truly don’t know. They are neither Scottish nor are they for independence!!! !!
2012-02-11 12:53
2012-02-11 16:10
What brave men they have in the labour party. Bullying and sexually harrassing women and thinking a child asked to be raped. Words fail me. I’m thinking an uninhabited island somewhere in the north Atlantic where they could only do these things to each other. Now there’s a picture I cant get out my head!
We could use them to uphold Scotland’s claim to Rockall. The fact the waves ofter break right over the bare rock is neither here not there.
2012-02-11 19:17
2012-02-11 13:11
glasgow.gov.uk/…/…
2012-02-11 14:00
2012-02-11 13:14
BBC will not do anything until London newspapers get involved. Remember the silence re Purcell.
2012-02-11 13:17
2012-02-11 13:27
Wallnerstrasse 6
1010 Vienna
Austria
Office: +43 1 514 36 6800
Fax: +43 1 514 36 6802
email pm-fom
osce.org2012-02-11 13:29
independent.co.uk/…/…
Maybe Scotland is next in the queue?
2012-02-11 13:50
I think Robert Louis in his post above is correct to say that the First Minister should ca’ canny in this matter and follow due process as he is doing by taking his complaints to the BBC Trust via Lord Patten.
It needs to be remembered that in any direct confrontation with the BBC it holds all the aces because it controls access to the airwaves and to how stories are spun. It also has a large pool of respect for its output from large sections of the population although that is now being chipped away slowly but surely. The story in the Independent being but the latest example.
2012-02-11 14:12
As is the case with its assault on Ranger’s FC, it appears, because Rangers told them where to get off.
Vindictiveness is not a quality that we should see in the way the public broadcaster operates.
The first thing that Chris Patten needs to do is to create a list of staff in BBC Scotand and find out what their past and present political affiliations are. This should not be difficult for him as much of it is public knowledge. If it appears to be loaded in one direction the organisation should be changed so that all parties, or none, are represented and the head of the political section should be known to have been politically neutral during his career. Now is a good opportunity for a cleansing of the organisation with the budget cuts and staff reductions taking effect.
2012-02-11 14:38
Agreed. The Rangers example was one of the ones that I was thinking of. Another would be the slavish reporting of the Tommy Sheridan case to the exclusion of almost anything else that was happening in Scotland at the time.
You have to box clever with them or suffer the consequences but it can be done.
2012-02-11 16:44
2012-02-11 16:12
Yes, and their affiliation is run as a banner as they are interviewing anyone, or commenting on something political. That would do it!
2012-02-11 19:29
2012-02-11 13:37
In a bid to stop the Scots from voting Yes in the referendum the Unionists have launched a new campaign with the slogan:
Please Vote No For FUKs Sake.
2012-02-11 13:59
Click this link-
www.youtube.com/…/
Warning: Not suitable for those of a nervious disposition or already suffering from heart or circulatory problems.
BTW:The Darkened room is rather crowded ATM.
2012-02-11 14:42
The solution to this gentleman’s problem is simple.
He needs an English parliament which is solely responsible for raising taxes and spending within England.
Just doesn’t seem fair does it ?
2012-02-11 15:23
2012-02-11 17:31
2012-02-11 19:33
2012-02-11 20:08
2012-02-11 19:00
2012-02-11 19:11
I told him they were the worst curtains I’ve ever seen in my life.
He needs to sort them out.
2012-02-11 21:02
Dear me. That poor poor man.
2012-02-12 02:44
2012-02-11 14:12
They must have at least attended the same school of corruption, possibly in Eton.
2012-02-11 14:13
Is this person related to Margaret Curran by any chance? Does anyone know?
If he is then his position would indicate preferencial treatment in his being placed at the Chair of this multi-million pound operation.
We have just found out that Johann Lamont is married to and I quote from “Teri” who posted on another thread; “Johann Lamont is placed in a difficult position with this one as her husband, Archie Graham, is Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council”.
Are we seeing a pattern here? Has GCC been a “jobs for the boys” setup? I would like to see an investigation done into this, but by whom?
Perhaps it is time that the Police got involved.
2012-02-11 14:27
This case raises the question– how did the member who was on the board of the building company know that an apprentice in that organisation was a relation of Cllr Millar? Have we returned to the old days when a labour councilors family/friends filled in a different coloured form from those with no political clout.
2012-02-11 17:41
Perhaps it is time that the Police got involved.
If the stories being heard around Scotland are true they have, “Been Involved”, all along
2012-02-11 15:08
2012-02-11 14:52
Hi SG: plenty of Labour collaboration here: citybuildingglasgow.co.uk/…/…
2012-02-11 14:55
“Glasgow Labour councillor Stephen Curran is the chair of City Building”
Is this person related to Margaret Curran by any chance? Does anyone know?
No relation afaik. However I believe he’s the same Cllr Curran discovered by the police having late night discussions in his car with a fellow councillor. No doubt they were talking over the strong Catholic family values he’s been known to promote on other occasions.
2012-02-11 16:28
2012-02-11 19:28
2012-02-11 14:18
When I think of it, the Labour party wanted to pay public money to newspapers in Scotland if they got back into power.
2012-02-11 14:22
2012-02-11 14:24
2012-02-11 14:47
As you rightly say ‘jam tomorrow’ and if they are serious,need to put this in place prior to the referendum otherwise people will just not believe it.
Also,London is beginning to realise that the political fortunes of their proxy in Scotland (Labour) is now hanging on a very shoogly peg.
I suspect that if things do not go well for Labour in Glasgow after the May elections we will see a flurry of “offers” from London.
2012-02-11 14:49
2012-02-11 18:10
They could hand over powers today if they really wanted to.
If I’m reading the southern signs correctly, and I’m never too far out, they have not really wakened up to the facts that indicate that Scotland is so close to breaking away. The full impact of what it really means has not caught on yet. The mental process they have that Westminster is actually the English Parliament and the other three countries are subserviant just has not got to the surface yet. They see The Queen as Queen of England, Her Majesty’s Navy is English, Her Army is English Her Air Force is English. Her UK Parliament is English, Her Majesty’s Civil Service is English, Her Majesty’s Diplomatic Corp is English, Her Majesty’s Secret Service is English as is Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise, Her Treasury, The national museum, art galleries, treasures and Treasury, Bank of England, Currency. Et Al. Thing is they are not. Furthermore, they think that England can pick and choose, (as she always has), to designate things as either a per capita or geographic basis to suit herself.
Well read the Treaty of Union. There is no indication that either country of the ONLY two that signed it are other than 50/50 partners. Legally that is how it is. Equal sovereign states so equal shares. Except England had a massive national bebt that she brought into the Union while Scotland, although broke, had no national debt. Wait until the real truth hits them.
‘
2012-02-11 23:40
2012-02-11 15:56
2012-02-11 14:36
If I hadn’t seen it on STV I would have been totally unaware of the Glasgow Council activities of the day.
2012-02-11 16:13
Maybe O/T Just wondering about this lack of BBC coverage when it suits them and thinking…’Is it not time for a wee note to STV to commend them for covering these items that give the BBC real problems?’ Am also of the thought that notes to their sponsors bringing to their attention that we do appreciate them funding a ‘fair’ or ‘fairer’ newscast. The funny (peculiar) thing is that I cannot understand John Mackay’s aggressive attitude when interviewing on the 10.30 show… which I’ve taken to instead of the crap on Newsnight!!
If I hadn’t seen it on STV I would have been totally unaware of the Glasgow Council activities of the day.
WilliamO—-
How I agree with you.I thought I was developing paranoia!!
For years I’ve watched Reporting Scotland with their well kent faces—believing I was getting high standard BBC reporting.How mistaken I was!!Items re Scottish Government were non-existent that ought to have been reported.
Tried STV and was surprised at the different approach.Not perfect—-but marginally better than BBC Scotland News Department.
Thanks for restoring my sanity!
2012-02-11 14:38
[Thank you. Correction has been made. – NNS]
2012-02-11 14:44
You do not need to go as far as the north Atlantic, just try Rouken Glen after a council meeting.
If you were chairman of the police commitee you would just get a pat on the head from the boys in blue.
2012-02-11 16:27
I want them to be VERY uncomfortable and unable to contaminate the rest of us. No, some lonely island that only gets a passing boat once a year with basic supplies. That would give them time to think through their misdemeanours
2012-02-11 15:07
The male cooncilor concerned may only have been a member of the police commitee- -same outcome- -no charge.
Anyone know if this pair have been de-selected?
2012-02-11 18:44
2012-02-11 15:59
So who exactly is Moore speaking on behalf of ? Westminster govt or as a Lib Dem MP ?
I think Alex Salmond’s first question to him when they meet this week for referendum talks should be to ask, ‘ are you speaking on behalf of the government or your party ?’
Very mixed signals coming from Westminster.
2012-02-11 16:19
2012-02-11 17:12
On the BBC Scotland news homepage:
[[Heading link: Salmond meeting with PM dismissed New
Scotland’s first minister seeks to play down the possibility of referendum talks with David Cameron in the next few days.
Links to this page: bbc.co.uk/…/…
Good luck finding where Salmond ‘seeks to play down’ referendum talks. .. a negative slant on what he actually said, which according to their article was “SNP leader said a date had yet to be confirmed”
When will this disgusting propaganda machine be held to account?
2012-02-11 19:25
Quote:
Scottish Secretary Michael Moore has reportedly offered Scots more powers if they vote “No”.
Reminds me of the 1707 headline :
Quote:
William 111 has reportedly offered Scots gold if they vote “Yes”
2012-02-11 17:14
2012-02-11 17:49
[Quotation removed – copyright breach – NNS Mod Team]
Wonderful – congratulations Ruth
2012-02-11 18:00
heraldscotland.com/…/…
2012-02-11 20:35
Sean Clerkin…. wasn’t he the guy who Ian Gray ran away from into the sandwich place last year ?
heraldscotland.com/…/…
Good spot.
Might also be the same Sean Clerkin who was the Scottish Socialist Party candidate in Paisley South, in the 1997 General election. And who was an SNP council candidate back in 2003. The boy’s been around.
Your link, of course shows one aspect of this farce which should always be remembered – the people being booted out by Labour just now, are not necessarily nice guys themselves. It was just that their faces didn’t fit.
I wonder, actually, if any of them chanced their arm and tried to join the SNP like Rabbani, but were told (politely, I hope) to go elsewhere.
2012-02-11 18:35
Aye Cllr Curran – working hard for Glasgow:
thesun.co.uk/…/…
(He innocently asks), Working what for Glasgow?
2012-02-11 18:21
My apologies to Don McLean fans, but here is my lyrical version of American Pie.
It Is the Unionist Pie
…/the-unionist-pie
2012-02-12 13:17
2012-02-11 18:22
2012-02-11 18:37
What a great description of Matheson after the budget meeting!
2012-02-11 18:51
2012-02-11 18:59
Recommend to others to have a read of this.
2012-02-11 18:35
Here’s the link to the short leet of candidates. The ceremony is on 16th Feb.
awards.cosla.gov.uk/…/…
Knowing the way COSLA works, I’ll put money on who the winners will be 🙂
2012-02-11 19:13
I’m only reporting what was already printed in the Sunday Express a few months back ! Is that an issue ? If so, then we are going to have to be careful what we write from now on.
2012-02-11 19:27
Breaching copyright law? Are you serious?
I can only assume that someone is leaning on NNS, otherwise it’s baseless paranoia. If that is the case, it deserves a well and carefully written article about who is doing the leaning.
2012-02-11 19:37
We aren’t free to post anything we like on here. A link can be provided to copyright material, but the actual material can’t be quoted in full.
Copyright owners could take action to bring down any site that breaches their copyright. Most sites aren’t worth bothering with. NNS has grown to the point where it might well be.
2012-02-11 19:47
I presume that you don’t understand copyright law?
We aren’t free to post anything we like on here. A link can be provided to copyright material, but the actual material can’t be quoted in full.
Copyright owners could take action to bring down any site that breaches their copyright. Most sites aren’t worth bothering with. NNS has grown to the point where it might well be.
I don’t really see why a spoof lyric of a Don McLean song would breach the copy write laws.
He would probably be amused and the guy that bowdlerised Don’s lyrics would be delighted it was reproduced here.
We will obviously have to watch what we reproduce on NNS.
2012-02-11 20:01
It doesn’t matter if you think the author wouldn’t mind. Minor breaches of copyright law (or apparently trivial, contestable ‘defamation’) can be enough to get a site closed down. I’m guessing NNS doesn’t have high-powered lawyers on call. Other parties might, and might have an interest in closing down dissenting voices.
2012-02-11 20:16
This site I speak of has infinitely more hits than NNS and sails on serenely with nary a word of protest from newspapers broadcasters or whatever.
Members are warned not to defame people and that’s about it.
I appreciate the paranoia though.
Sometimes folk really are out to get you.
2012-02-12 01:05
If copyright has become a problem on the comments section of this website, then it is probably the only website in the entire world where reprinting a paragraph from a news site or blog puts the site in ‘serious’ danger of a litigation action. Such action, in almost any circumstance of online comment, is a very very remote possibility, and utterly indefensible in a court of law.
Let’s have a reasoned discussion about this. This is a serious breach of civil rights.
News that is ‘reprinted here’, originated elsewhere. As long as that news is attributed to the originator, no allegations of defamation can be laid at the door of NNS. The copyright line is nonsense, a huge red herring. The law is very very clear on exactly ‘who’ makes allegations, and that is entirely down to language and context.
If this is simply an argument about reprinting ‘so called’ copyrighted news material, in NNS’s case, news reports, then those raising the action do not have a leg to stand on. On what basis exactly would NNS be acting illegally? The precedent has been set; you would need to prosecute every news outlet in the UK, including every blog on the net.
Copyright owners may well be disposed to bring actions, but in doing so, at least in terms of partially quoting news items and blogging info (which may in itself contain copyrighted material), they expose themselves to utter ridicule in the courts. Not even Murdoch was able to pursue this line personally.
NEWS is not copyright. Neither is information. How that information is portrayed on the other hand is another matter.
Best
S
2012-02-11 20:31
So with that in mind, going back to my earlier post that was moderated – this is what I mentioned.
newsnetscotland.com/…/…
Presumably a link to your own article is acceptable NNS ?
2012-02-11 20:41
heraldscotland.com/…/…
Another thing that comes out of that story, is the fact that the Greater Pollok Ward has, as one of its 2 Labour candidates for May, a certain Bill Butler. You might remember him: he was the Glasgow Anniesland MSP until last May, when Bill Kidd took it for the SNP by 7 votes.
Greater Pollok is, of course, in Johann Lamont’s constituency.
2012-02-11 21:00
2012-02-11 21:22
All I am asking for is that NNS does a sanity check on some odd posts of late
However such questions seem to be verboten on NNS
Someone pointed me to a response to me, but it was gone. It was showing in the latest posts but of that post there was no sign.
No explanation. No courtesy. Just disappeared
2012-02-12 09:41
Posts following this one, including request for me to explain why I think my posts were being modded off, are modded off
Leaving just this one, presumably to made me look as if I am imagining it all.
Still no explanation, still a situation worse than even the BBC blogs
2012-02-12 00:09
twitpic.com/8inyll
2012-02-12 02:01
In North Ayrshire in 2007, several ex-Labour people became councillors because they were anti the council’s PFI schemes for schools. In the Council, however, they largely supported the Labour administration.
If genuine change is to happen in Glasgow, then it won’t happen because some councillors who Labour considered as too useless to carry on, get elected.
2012-02-12 00:42
Sitting looking at that wee card makes me feel that wee bit prouder. The bit of plastic is mostly worthless, the idea behind it swells my heart with pride. I’d reccommend it to anyone thinking of helping the cause. Join now, you won’t regret it. Your countrymen in future years will be for ever grateful.
Yes to Independence.
2012-02-12 03:44
What is it about Labour that a party that was founded with such noble ideals and which (at least in 1945) has achieved so much for social good has become so corrupt and little better than the mafia? jacothenorth.blogspot.com/…/…
2012-02-12 11:07
Waste of time is all it’s achieved so far.
However in case this is left up? i just read a story on Huff/aol, wullie rennie causing mischief again!
Link (if it’s ok to do so)
huffingtonpost.co.uk/…/…
2012-02-12 18:41
2012-02-12 19:26
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