Clarkson’s rant finds a supporter – a striker

JEREMY Clarkson has found an unusual ally in a striking council official who suggests he would shoot those who complained about the Top Gear presenter’s views.

Clarkson was at the centre of a row last week when he joked that striking public-sector workers should be shot.

His comments have been defended in a blog written by Gerry Reynolds, events manager with Highland Council, who was among the local authority employees who joined the St Andrew’s Day action.

Mr Reynolds said: “As a striker myself, I have to admit when I heard Clarkson had said that we strikers should be lined up against a wall and shot, I simply smiled and got on with my life.”

He said Clarkson “woke up the copycat complainers” who are “starting to really irritate the hell out of me” and added: “I have decided that if I am ever put in charge that I would like to line all the UK’s copycat complainers up against a wall; tell them that I have had enough, and shoot them myself. Of course, that is a joke. I don’t own a gun, never want to, and would rather use a sledgehammer.

“The reason why I want rid of these people is simple. Just as I take the freedom to walk across a picket line as seriously as the right to stand on one; the freedom to express jokes and opinions is very dear to me.”

The comments drew criticism from another public-sector worker, who said: “The problem is that the language of aggression through Jeremy Clarkson’s comments may be seen as acceptable forms of communication and certainly Mr Reynolds’ comments are deplorable.”

Inverness councillor Donnie Kerr said: “If you are putting comments on a public forum you should be careful what you put up, especially in humour as people might not take it as humour.”