Stirling Council Chief Defends Witchcraft Apology Amidst Criticism

The civic head of Stirling Council has defended the decision to issue an apology and establish commemorations for individuals accused of witchcraft, stating it is not a distraction from the council's primary responsibilities.

Rosemary Fraser, Lord Provost of Stirling Council, argued that acknowledging past injustices is integral to serving the community. This stance comes after criticism from Neil Benny, leader of the Conservative group on the council, who called the move "absurd" and suggested the authority should instead prioritize issues like road maintenance, crime reduction, housing development, and creating opportunities for children.

Benny accused the SNP councillors proposing the motion of having "warped priorities" and using their position for personal agendas. He claimed their focus was not on serving citizens but on pursuing "hobby-horses."

During a full council meeting on Thursday, Ms. Fraser countered these criticisms, stating that councils are capable of multitasking. "While bringing this motion forward, we have also increased spending on roads by £3 million over this year and next, increased grass cutting, cleaned up our streets following years of decline, and established a working group to tackle antisocial behaviour," she said. She also referred to these actions as "sorting out the mess left from his Labour/Tory administration."

Fraser described the "hobby-horse" characterization as "disrespectful," emphasizing that acknowledging the historical persecution of women is about recognizing local history and past legal wrongs, not personal interests. "We can address the challenges facing Stirling today while acknowledging the injustices of our past. Doing both is not a distraction from the day job — it is part of serving our communities properly," she stated, adding that she understood it might be difficult for Councillor Benny to multitask.

The motion, introduced by Ms. Fraser, formally acknowledges and expresses "profound regret for the injustice suffered by those accused of witchcraft in Stirling." It requests the Lord Provost to offer a civic apology to those persecuted, convicted, or executed in Stirling due to witchcraft accusations. The motion also recognizes the lasting impact of these persecutions, particularly on women, including inequality, poverty, vulnerability, and discrimination. It commits the council to ensuring this local history is appropriately remembered and represented within the city's heritage and educational initiatives.

Furthermore, the motion directs council officers to collaborate with historians, archives, and community organizations to determine a fitting way to commemorate the victims and preserve their stories.

SNP councillor Willie Ferguson supported the motion, drawing parallels between the historical witchcraft accusations and national apologies for events like Bloody Sunday, Hillsborough, and the Windrush scandal. He noted that such historical acknowledgments did not lead to accusations of government distraction. Ferguson highlighted that historical records suggest over 2,500 people, predominantly women, were executed for witchcraft, asserting that atrocities from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries are as worthy of apology as those within living memory.

Ferguson also criticized the Stirling Tories for their lack of effective opposition and for engaging in "political point scoring" while the SNP administration demonstrates its ability to multitask and address historical wrongs, contrasting it with the failures of the previous Labour administration, which he stated the Tories supported.