Donald Trump: Let's salute those who stood up to future president over Balmedie golf course – Brian Wilson

I noticed a report this week about the East Garioch councillor, Martin Ford, promoting cycle and walking routes in his area; not national news but nicely serendipitous.

People who stood up to Donald Trump, pictured on the 13th tee at the Trump International Golf Links at Balmedie, when it was less fashionable to do so deserve credit, says Brian Wilson (Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA)

Our leaders queued to excoriate Donald Trump, the ex-President whom no sound-biter now wants to know. But only Councillor Ford was the real deal; when it mattered, he stood up to Trump and incurred his wrath, bullying and bluster. If only the world had listened.

Martin Ford was chairman of Aberdeenshire’s planning committee when the Trump circus rolled into the north-east. His casting vote threw out the environmentally outrageous scheme at Balmedie to bulldoze Sites of Special Scientific Interest out of existence.

For his trouble, Councillor Ford faced local headlines like “We Want Trump Traitor Sacked”. His Aberdeenshire colleagues voted to remove his chairmanship. Now Trump has gone, Menie dunes are no longer an SSSI but Councillor Ford is still doing good works for his community.

Trump didn’t bother to appeal but went straight to the Scottish government where he had friends at court. “I have great respect for the ministers… I just hope they can make a decision quickly” – which they duly did, every fairway cleared, every green smoothed to accommodate the great man.

Another individual we should appreciate is film-maker Anthony Baxter who had the genius idea of following the whole story and making the classic documentary “You’ve Been Trumped”.

It should be shown to every Scottish school-child as a classic example of what happens when celebrity and wealth meet hick government – but won’t be. So let’s just salute Messrs Ford and Baxter as the great Scottish anti-Trumps, before it was fashionable or profitable.

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