Modern Orcadians might want to check on their MSP

One again, I seem to be forced into the arena of political madness as it seems the people of Orkney have an MSP who was keen to get his name in the media foe any reason, even if just to be pilloried. (I should write a political blog, it’s so easy – people just throw stories out to be collected.)

While the following major issue could, and should, probably have been dealt with through a few emails or a phone call, Orkney MSP Liam McArthur is reported to have lodged a Parliamentary Motion over the matter:

One of the most popular supporting characters from the hit US TV show The Simpsons has been revealed as hailing from Kirkwall.

The Orkney origins of Groundskeeper Willie, Springfield Elementary’s curmudgeonly janitor, will be divulged in an episode to be screened in the US later in February.

In the episode, flame-haired Willie is shown as a young Orcadian born of a ‘Doonie’ father and an ‘Uppie’ mother in a family torn apart by the rivalry of The Ba’, the island’s traditional festive football game.

The revelations came in an interview with Simpsons writer Rob Lazebnik broadcast on Radio Orkney on Thursday morning where he discussed the episode, titled The Daughter also Rises.

Following the announcement, Orkney MSP Liam McArthur has called on Glasgow City Council to remove the character’s name from its website, where it is claimed Willie – whose full name is William MacDougal – is a famous Glaswegian.

Mr McArthur said: “We know that those with Orkney roots are to be found far and wide across the globe. It should come as no surprise then that the Orkney diaspora has even reached Springfield USA.

“I was concerned to note, however, that Glasgow City Council have made moves to claim Groundskeeper Willie as one of their own by listing him as an ‘alleged’ son of their city.

“In light of recent, incontrovertible evidence and to avoid any future confusion, I have written to the Leader of Glasgow City Council, requesting that they renounce the claim on their website, and in any other relevant materials.

“A Parliamentary Motion has also been lodged to this effect.”

Via The Simpsons: Groundskeeper Willie’s Scots roots revealed | Aberdeen and North | STV News

In the same report, Glasgow City Council replied:

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “We’re confused because Willie has previously described himself as being the ugliest man in Glasgow.

“Perhaps he is from Orkney, but like everyone else in the world who’s not Glaswegian, he just wishes he was. We’ve changed our website to reflect his new claim

As an apolitical creature, I really don’t know much about what duties an MSP is supposed to perform, but this is surely an utterly pointless and complete waste of Parliamentary procedure, whining about the fictitious genealogical background of an American cartoon character.

He MAY have had some sort of case to fight if GCC had denied the claim, and refused to change any reference it had to the character – but that didn’t happen.

He obviously has too much time on his hands – I’d be sending him for a few days holiday to consider his future if he worked for me (and placing some adverts about an upcoming vacancy in Orkney).

(The fuss was fine and fun – escalating the matter to Parliament was not.)