Time to set the record straight

I have not married "a second Ukrainian bride". My ex-wife Anastasia came from Minsk in Belarus and I first met her over ten years ago. Where? Edinburgh !

I have not been married five times!

I met my wife Nataliya more than two and a half years ago when I was in Kiev on holiday. Sorry to disappoint some people.

You also mentioned Elena. Unfortunately she cannot answer for herself as she died of a cancerous brain tumour at the age of 27. One of my private trips to Kiev was to visit the hospital to pay the surgeon for an operation otherwise she would have been sent home to die.

Unfortunately her life could not be saved but it was prolonged for a further two years and I visited her (privately) as often as I could. I also visited her grave as often as I could. Is this OK?

My recent wedding was not "hush hush". I married at the Registrars Office in South Queensferry.

All councillors have to furnish reasons for making a foreign visit and the delegation has to be cleared at council or the executive

I should like to conclude by thanking my two opposition colleagues for ensuring that my wife received a warm hospitable welcome to her new life in Scotland.

Councillor Steve Cardownie,

Deputy Lord Provost,

Edinburgh City Council City Chambers,

High Street,

Edinburgh