One of the first things I learned when I became a councillor almost five years ago was how important perception is. The late Gibson Macdonald was the first to ram the message home to a very green councillor, but how important it is has become clear over the past years.
It`s not so much what you do . . . it`s what the public think you are doing.
What do I mean? Well being on the planning committee (regulatory panel) it is vital to remain impartial, so if a planning application is coming up you can`t discuss it with anyone connected to the project. And you can`t even be seen in the company of anyone connected with the project.
You might be talking to the managing director of a building company about the price of bread . . . but what anyone witnessing the conversation thinks can come back to bite you. So you keep your distance. Common sense really for a politician.
Seems a bit drastic? Maybe but that`s how it is and it is what our parliamentary representatives seem to forget when they get to Westminster - or Holyrood for that matter. Witness this week`s hoohah about kitchen suppers at Downing Street. They may well have been perfectly innocent but that`s not the perception.
They could do well taking up the South Ayrshire motto `Ne`er forget the people`- because they`re watching you!
Was interested to see the first local newspaper tack on last week`s Conservative Party Conference in Troon. Apparently the town was brought to a standstill by the arrival of the Prime Minister on Friday. Not true but don`t let the facts spoil a good story. It is true there was a strong police presence (understandably) but when I arrived Troon seemed to be moving as usual.
However the event did provide a good conversation stopper. Speaking to my daughter on Friday evening.... `And what did you do today? .... I met the Prime Minister!
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