THERE’S little doubt that crofting ‘officialdom’ in its various forms, right up to the higher echelons of the Scottish Government, will be breathing a huge sigh of relief that the controversial figure of Colin Kennedy has not been re-elected to the Crofting Commission.
However, if anyone cares to take a dispassionate view of the way the elections to the Crofting Commission panned out, forgetting for a moment that Colin Kennedy was involved, then considerable disquiet must be felt.
Most disturbing, of course, are the claims made to this office that some eligible voters were prevented from doing so due to, at the very least, maladministration.
In a closely contested vote – Mr Kennedy lost by two votes in his area after polling the most in each of the first three rounds, before losing in the head to head count – then serious questions can legitimately be asked, followed by an investigation by those at the highest level of government. 
Indeed, a ScotGov statement on the procedures pertaining to this election must be forthcoming.