What the Provost wears

[CameronCat]

Hi
Found this story in today's on-line Scotsman newspaper. Bit of a shouting match over a kilt, purchased with public funds. Owner is unrepentant.

Full story here:
news.scotsman.com/edinburgh/Provost-denies-150-mile-trip.6270139.jp

But here's the lead...
"Provost denies 150 mile trip to buy kilt a waste of money"

Published Date: 04 May 2010
By MARK McLAUGHLIN

A FOOTBALL-LOVING Lord Provost has come under fire after making a 150-mile round trip to buy a kilt on expenses. Provost Adam Montgomery racked up a £60 mileage claim to purchase the £890 garment from McCallum Highland Wear of Kilmarnock.

The kilt, designed for Kilmarnock Football Club, was also charged to the taxpayer. Mr Montgomery is Midlothian Lord Provost and today Midlothian Council's SNP group, led by SNP parliamentary candidate Colin Beattie, said his trip was excessive and wasteful.

But Provost Montgomery said he had "**** all" to answer for.

<for more, see link>

Regards,
JT

[auld argonian]

Got elections coming up over there, eh?

Best

AA

[thescot]

Hm. Some people just don't understand the importance of a good kilt.

But £890 for a kilt does seem a bit excessive. I could get several kilts from Barb et al for that price.

[billmcc]

But £890 for a kilt does seem a bit excessive. I could get several kilts from Barb et al for that price.

Very excessive.

[Brian K]

Hm. Some people just don't understand the importance of a good kilt.

But £890 for a kilt does seem a bit excessive. I could get several kilts from Barb et al for that price.

Wool spun from the golden fleece, perhaps? Of course, it seems like the public is who got fleeced!

[Lachlan09]

Sorry to be out of step (I haven't lived in Scotland since 1983), but is there a Lord Provost of Midlothian ? I remember for example there being a Provost of Musselburgh (that used to be Davie Caird in the 1970’s), a Lord Provost of Edinburgh, a Lord Provost of Glasgow etc, but a Lord Provost for a county or region ?

I still can’t get used to Musselburgh being shunted out of Midlothian to become part of East Lothian. If ever I send Fedex to my dad, I still use Midlothian out of stubbornness. (It still gets there – postal codes haven’t changed, Musselburgh’s still EH21 – being EH for Edinburgh). I believe that Musselburgh has the dubious distinction of being the only town in the re-vamped East Lothian to have traffic lights.

[skauwt]

Sorry to be out of step (I haven't lived in Scotland since 1983), but is there a Lord Provost of Midlothian ? I remember for example there being a Provost of Musselburgh (that used to be Davie Caird in the 1970’s), a Lord Provost of Edinburgh, a Lord Provost of Glasgow etc, but a Lord Provost for a county or region ?

i think you may be right here im assuming its just down the reporter not doing the homework for the story

[McClef]

Most definitely NOT a Lord Provost as that requires a city status and Dalkieth isn't a city.

But that is an excessive price for a kilt, especially when funded from council taxes and in a tartan which has nothing to do with representing Mid Lothian.

Unlike the chain of office, it would be a bit difficult to pass on to a successor in the Provostship. Another example of the "I have done nothing wrong" and "it's within the rules" mentality.