Former SNP leader Gordon Wilson’s controversial comments on same-sex marriage have cost him a top position at Dundee Citizens Advice Bureau.
At the organisation’s annual general meeting on Thursday, his bid to be re-elected as one of the 12 board directors was blocked by a vociferous opposition from the floor.
The one-time Dundee East MP, whose opposition to gay marriages has been well publicised, was ousted from his post following a landslide vote.
In a series of bitter exchanges a number of board members and CAB staff voiced their disapproval of Mr Wilson who only this month argued that the Scottish Government could not ”redefine” marriage and any attempt to do so would put at risk the institution.
He also stated, in his role as chairman of the Dundee Christian faith group Solas, that the move would be a violation of the human rights of traditional married couples. There were no signs he would alter these views as he delivered a defiant speech to CAB members.
”I am who I am,” he said. ”This religious argument is completely irrelevant to the purposes of the CAB. If you put in a case against same-sex marriage you are facing discrimination.
”The Citizen Advice Bureau gets £39,000 from the Scottish Government on various religious discrimination projects. Now I have to say if you practise religious discrimination you may not get all of that money I don’t advocate it but it is an argument.”
Fellow board members argued that Mr Wilson could not be director of an organisation which in its own equal opportunities policy statement says it will endeavour to bring equality into the mainstream.
Despite this Mr Wilson’ said he did agree with the equal opportunities statement.
Staff members tried to comment on the matter but were denied the opportunity by Dundee CAB chairman and former Dundee East Labour MP, Iain Luke.
This led to accusations that he was “gagging” staff from having their say a claim denied by Mr Luke, who explained that policy dictated only members could express comment at the AGM.
But this was directly challenged by an angry board member who said: “You have not long applauded the staff for their hard work and dedication and you are now denying them the chance to speak.
“But I am surprised Mr Wilson has put his name forward to be elected to the board of the general trustees. He has been publicly vocal and indeed vitriolic in voicing his opinion over gay marriages in Scotland.
“I therefore urge Mr Wilson to withdraw his name from the election of the board in the interest of the bureau.”
Of the 12 new board members, 11 were appointed to their position without a challenge.
There were a total of 21 votes lodged against Mr Wilson’s appointment. The accusations and eventual vote prompted two board members to resign from their post, including Mr Luke, who said he was very disappointed by what he had witnessed.
He told The Courier: “Gordon Wilson came into the bureau with a great deal of experience and political influence. I spoke with him not long ago when he said that he was considering leaving the organisation and I managed to talk him out of it.
“He has been an exemplary member and I very much appreciate all the work he has done.”
A new chairman is expected to be appointed to the Citizens Advice Bureau in the near future.