Many reports suggest that Scotland in general has a MAJOR substance abuse problem. The BBC reports that alcohol abuse in Scotland is higher than anywhere else in the UK.

If we are going to sit in judgement of this drunk Purcell then we have to do so for all politicians.

I do not think it appropriate for the Temperance Society to run the country.

And why are you not at all concerend at Persil’s spin doctors – the homophobes who ran the Keep the Clause campaign – being employed by your man to feed lies to the media and threaten injunctions if they tried to print the truth.

Taking cocaine is as morally acceptable as taking a legal drug like alcohol in my view. Cocaine kills far less people than alcohol or nicotine.

Winston Churchill was a raging alcoholic but is regarded as being one of the best PM’s ever.

Considering that huge numbers of people drink and drug to excess, it is hypocritical in the extreme to criticise a politician for doing so.

Alcoholism is rampant in all countries, and not just in the UK, and so is the use of drugs…it’s a multi-billion dollar industry…who do you think is consuming the stuff??

If we were to question every political decision made under the influence of alcohol or drugs, we would have to start at square one, right.

So when was the fermentation of honey and vegetables invented?

Who ate the first magic mushroom? And when?

Personally, I do hope Steven Purcell, who is only 32 years old, does recover completely, not only because he’s gay like I am, but also because I know that people do recover from alcohol and drug abuse and can go on to live exceptional lives.

I mean that’s hardly unusual. In fact it’s quite common. Very common in fact.

It’s at epidemic levels across the UK.

My problem is that he seems to be taking the Iris ‘I am depresed’ Robinson route of claiming to be stressed to avoid answering questions.

Bit more detail here though:

http://order-order.com/2010/03/07/gordons-scottish-snowstorm/

I particularly like the bit about being so abusive to call centre staff they blocked his number.

Abusive, bullying behaviour from an overpromoted, Scottish Liebour moron? Does this sound familiar anyone?

Did his ability to run the authority suffer as a result of his seemingly widely known drug use?

Did he feel that being a willing participant in drug dealing was appropriate for the leader of the council?

and various other similar questions …..

Hmmm. Curious statement to make. That very sentence only shows how biased you actually are, so your argument hardly one to be taken seriously, but I’m sure the irony is lost on you.

Second point, the police becoming aware of a dealer claiming to have evidence of drug use wouldn’t be grounds for arrest.

You might want to google the story because there does seem to be quite a lot about it, although wen I looked, as has been pointed out, it wasn’t something the BBC were picking up (for whatever reason).

Typical of their approach to government really – let the very poorest rot whilst they live the high life.

I don’t generally subscribe to conspiracy theories but there is not a whiff of this on the BBC website.

Imagine if a Conservative council leader had resigned and fled into hiding after their addiction to columbian nose candy became known – Headline news for days at the BBC I would imagine. Biased, new Labour loving f88kers.

Glasgow City Council certainly has its fair share of problems, and people (as so often when it comes to their council) are rightly angry as a result. However, I doubt any person of reasonable intelligence would believe tabloid hack reports that he’s partying it up in the sun and having a lovely time. I mean, use your head!

“It emerged yesterday that officers from the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforecement Agency visited him at his office in the city chambers last May to warn that he could be open to blackmail. The agency told him that it was aware of a dealer claiming to have evidence of drug use which could end his career.”

“Mr Purcell later confessed to aides that he had taken the class-A drug. However, he assured them that the problem was in the past and he promised to change his lifestyle.”

“One former colleague said: ‘He not only promised to change his lifestyle but appeared to demonstrate he was serious by moving house and going to the gym five days a week.’”

wonderwhatsnext, you may have a point ……