It's Provost Leishman as Labour returns to power
Gary Fitzpatrick • Published 17 May 2012 09:30
24 Comments
NEW Labour councillor Jim Leishman made a sensational start to his political career when he was elected as provost of Fife today .
The Pars legend, recently elected by voters in Central Dunfermline, was only ten minutes into his first-ever meeting as a councillor when the chains of office were being put around his neck.
He said he felt "very privileged" to be given the role after winning a vote against previous incumbent Frances Melville by a 42-35 margin.
Labour then went on to take control of the council when group leader Alex Rowley defeated the SNP's Peter Grant by the same margin.
The new council has a minority Labour administration being supported by four Independents and three Tories.
An emotional Provost Leishman said, "I was born in Gardiner Street, Lochgelly, from a mining background and I think my family would be so proud of me today."
He recalled he was only 29 -years-old when he became Pars manager for the first time. "I had to learn quickly and got success."
At a press conference afterwards, he said he had thought long and hard before deciding to stand for the provost's role.
"I'm a busy person and to get this role is huge. I had to go away and think about. I spoke to people and now that I've got the position I'm totally committed to it," he said,
"I've spoken to the owners of the football club. I've explained it to them and they're 100 per cent behind me. They think it's a great honour for the football club as well that I've got such a high position within Fife."
This article appeared in Dunfermline Press 17 May 12
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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vinoboy35
70 posts
May 18, 01:07
Report commentDay 1 of his new job as Councillor and he gets top post and £28,000 pay rise ,cannot be bad .Gordon Brown rewards the pawn . Good luck Jim ,tailor made role for you but made easy for you by patronage.
Recommend?
Yes 22
No 8
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kaka30
311 posts
May 18, 07:12
Report commentCant think of anybody more suited to the role of Provost, Jim will do great job.
The Torries are a shambles and by accepting their part in the Coalition, due to a fews thirst for power, the Lib Dems have put their Party back 10 years.
Nationally and locally Labour have gathered some gifted political minds together and i can see a bright future for Britain in the coming years.
Recommend? Yes 3
No 26
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cosimpson
11 posts
May 18, 08:25
Report comment`Nationally and locally Labour have gathered some gifted political minds together and i can see a bright future for Britain in the coming years.`
No doubt building on their stunning success whilst in power from 1997 to 2010 ?? (financial meltdown/vat on domestic fuel/introduction of tuition fees/ Prescott`s road fuel price escalator/Brown`s patronage of the City`s good and great) Dream on........
Recommend? Yes 19
No 7
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arahant11
2 posts
May 18, 08:36
Report commentSo Jim is now earning 3 salaries in total for councillor, provost and fitba director? Not bad for someone in the unemployment blackspot of west fife
Recommend? Yes 22
No 5
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redrobin
285 posts
May 18, 09:24
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cosimpson
11 posts
May 18, 10:30
Report comment`So Jim is now earning 3 salaries in total for councillor, provost and fitba director? Not bad for someone in the unemployment blackspot of west fife `
You missed out the lucrative after dinner speaker circuit! Still his 50% rate of income tax has just been reduced to 45% which will help to ease the pain of having to live on a 6 figure annual income. Yeah for some the gravy train just keeps rolling whilst many families face real hardship. Socialism in action!
Recommend? Yes 25
No 4
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redrobin
285 posts
May 18, 13:57
Report commentDunfermline as a major player in Scotland with him at the helm???!! I don't think so!
Ego Ego Ego!!
Recommend? Yes 15
No 22
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ningin
85 posts
May 18, 15:55
Report commentgood luck to the man ...but its not all smiling for the cameras...as well as, when the the high officers beat the big drum he will still be expected to swallow his popularity and tow the party line whether his ethics are in conflict or not...
Recommend? Yes 10
No 2
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bicyclebob
159 posts
May 18, 15:57
Report commentyes my fellow travellers,the mary leishman foundation as well
Recommend? Yes 5
No 17
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redrobin
285 posts
May 18, 16:27
Report commentO.K. but dunfermline press not as many photo opps as Les Wood please
Recommend? Yes 7
No 18
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******
May 19, 00:33
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kaka30
311 posts
May 19, 08:17
Report commentcosimpson -
Its very easy for you & your ilk to sit back & blame the Labour Party for all the woes but there werent many complaining at the time.
I think you tend to forget or ignore the fact that its a Global slump we are experiencing or at least a Euro & American one.
I think im right in saying that India & Brasil are two of the few economies that are showing any real growth, so maybe you & the rest of your negative minded friends should consider moving there.
Recommend? Yes 8
No 7
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******
May 19, 12:36
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NotHappyJan
192 posts
May 20, 00:34
Report commentI am sure Jim will make a great provost. He was a great Manager at the PARS and I would love to see him stick it up them in Rovers land! Such a handsome man as well.
Recommend? Yes 5
No 10
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cosimpson
11 posts
May 20, 12:48
Report commentkaka30
Well it was Gordon Brown who claimed `safe pair of hands` and `no more boom and bust` whilst toadying to his friends in the city. Basically riding the crest of a wave over which he had no control whilst claiming all the credit. Sold most of our gold reserves at $250 - $300 per oz (now at $1600),knighted the now disgraced Fred Goodwin, elevated that working class hero John Prescott to the peerage (incidentally a man who has campaigned for the abolition of the House of Lords), introduced tuition fees hitting poorer students the hardest, introduced insurance premium tax as though there weren`t enough people already who couldn`t afford proper insurance, introduced vat on domestic fuel again hitting the poor hardest - I don`t suppose many Labour ministers had to turn down their heating for financial reasons, introduced the road fuel price escalator to ensure road fuel price rises outstripped inflation to force the working man off the road (already struggling to finance running a car) whilst allowing the company chairman and government ministers to progress unhindered in their chauffeur driven limousines. And they call themselves Socialists!
Recommend? Yes 11
No 6
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bahhumbug
3 posts
May 20, 16:00
Report commentGood on you Jim but watch your back.
Kate Stewart has been a Fife Councillor for barely 5 minutes and she's started barnstorming. She claims, in her letter to this paper, that she has fulfilled her 1st election promise by giving up her job just like she promised.
That'll be your job with Fife Council then, Kate!!!
The job you HAD to give up because you got elected to the Council.
She has served her political apprenticeship with the Scottish Socialist Party under the tutorage of the grandmaster, Tommy Suntan Sheridan, so I shouldn't really be surprised by her being economical with the truth.
Recommend? Yes 11
No 3
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kaka30
311 posts
May 20, 19:03
Report commentcosimpson -
Its very easy to look back now and pick faults, we could all do that with any Government down the years.
I am also not stupid enough not to admit that mistakes werent made by Tony Blair & Gordon Brown but as i said above the problems the Country is facing now, are problems that the World is facing.
Jim Leishman will make a great Provost & Ed Millaband, Ed Balls etc will be worthy of leading the Country in the coming years.
Nationalism & hard line Socialism views make no economic sense in this day & age, in an ideal utopia maybe but not present day.
Im quite sure we will never agree but i respect your views.
Recommend? Yes 4
No 8
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vinoboy35
70 posts
May 20, 19:13
Report commentHumbug - I think Kate Stewart may at one time have been in the Labour Party and a very close ally of the local leadership -no doubt someone will confirm or rebut this assumption. I am sure other Councillors were in other parties before settling on their party of choice.
Recommend? Yes 2
No 3
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cosimpson
11 posts
May 20, 22:53
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Johnnyboy1
18 posts
May 21, 19:37
Report commentHmmm, here's one for all you liebour/leishman supporters:
The current rules for civic leaders (provosts, etc) state that the 'elected' person must live in the region; HOWEVER as most will know the bold Jim doesn't live in Fife.
IN FACT, he gave his address as East End Park, Halbeath Road, Dunfermline, KY12 7RB.
SO how has this come about? Perhaps Alex Rowley or even better Mr. Leishman could give us some answers...................................?
Preferably on this thread; however more likely the local liebour PR machine will be straight on the blower to Simon Harris, who will get Gazza Fitzpatrick to pop along to East End to get the 'story'.
So Messrs Rowley, Leishman, Harris, Fitzpatrick, et al, we're waiting.......................
Recommend? Yes 12
No 4
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kaka30
311 posts
May 21, 22:34
Report commentIm quite sure once Gary has popped along, he will confirm that Hallbeath Road is in Fife.
Then again, i see what you are getting at and frankly its petty to say the least.
Recommend? Yes 2
No 8
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MrsScottsWeeLaddie
48 posts
May 22, 11:18
Report commentLeish has been "Mr Dunfermline" for the last 25 years or so - so becoming provost is almost destiny like. I think he'll do a good job, the media like him, and as has been touched upon in other posts, he's the most charismatic since Les Wood (no offence to the others, but they've been a wee bit faceless to be honest.) Leish doesn't decide the pay for the job, that comes with the position, so good luck to him, I think he'll generate a bit of external interest in Dunfermline, and at least he's a colourful charachter!
The whole of Scottish politics is a two horse race these days between, Nationalists and Labour, the coalition has killed the Liberals stone dead in Scotland, again it has to be said the London based parties taking Scots for granted to woo Mr & Mrs middle England. The Scottish Liberals must be gutted, after making the break through in Dunfermline and hoping to make inroads in the central belt "Cleggy" jumps into bed with the Tories? All those noble liberal values sold out for the inevitable seat in the Lords for "Lord Clegg" when the Coalition dissolves following a trouncing at the next election.
How about Leish for leader of Scottish Labour? Oooh First Minister Leishman, that has a ring to it? If the independence vote falls, Prime Minister Leishman? Ha - I'd vote for him!
Recommend? Yes 4
No 4
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justsayin
34 posts
May 22, 12:06
Report commentJohnnyboy
What the rules actually say are that candidates must either live or work in the region. You can check this on Fife Council's website or any other council website or look up the Representation of the People Act.
Recommend? Yes 2
No 2
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magpiefifer
12 posts
May 23, 09:28
Report commentWhether JL is abiding by the rules or not, how can he properly carry out the said roles - and what value is he to DAFC,which like all other football clubs is struggling to cope financially.
Recommend? Yes 2
No 1
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******
May 24, 22:48
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Geedoc
23 posts
May 24, 23:49
Report commentI'm sure that all the long serving Labour Cllrs,who have given time effort and service to party and people will recognise Jims' just reward for all their efforts !
Recommend? Yes 1
No 0
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shawshoose
3 posts
Jun 15, 17:00
Report commentBeware of wolves in sheep's clothing Jimbo.
I would be very scepticle that you may be used by Labour as a Talisman for their political aspirations. It would be a shame for politics to ruin all of the good things you do for Dunfermline and the charities. Be careful Jim.
Recommend? Yes 0
No 0
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