Caithness candidate condemns 'thug-like' and 'anti-democratic' behaviour as election signs are targeted
A Caithness councillor has hit out at the "thug-like" behaviour of those who have chosen to vandalise his posters in the run-up to this week's local authority elections.
Conservative candidate Struan Mackie declared that intimidation is not the way to deal with political differences and vowed that he would repair and replace every sign that has been targeted.
Some signs were taken down and discarded in bins in Thurso's pedestrian precinct, while there have also been incidents in Castletown and Bower.
He has reported the matter to the police.
Councillor Mackie, the provost of Thurso, is seeking re-election as a Scottish Conservative and Unionist member for Thurso and Northwest Caithness on Highland Council.
"I am incredibly disappointed that a number of my election signs have been stolen or damaged in Castletown, Bower and the pedestrian precinct in Thurso in recent days," he said.
"These mindless acts of vandalism and theft have clearly been targeted at my campaign in Thurso and Northwest Caithness, with a competitor's signs remaining in place despite being placed on the same lampposts and street furniture.
"Candidate posters are protected under Highland Council’s election rules and it is an offence to tamper with or remove them during the election period. I have reported these incidents to Police Scotland and I am hopeful that those responsible will be identified given the prevalence of CCTV within the town precinct, where my signs were removed and discarded in street bins.
"Although my team are rightly disappointed and upset by this anti-democratic act, my message to those who have done this is that if you don’t like me, or my views, or my signs, that’s fine – use your democratic vote on May 5.
"That is the way we deal with political differences here in the Highlands, not through intimidation and thug-like, criminal behaviour.
"Until then, I will continue to repair and replace every sign."
