I AM somewhat bemused by the angry letter of December 13 from Alex Kerr, someone who I have never heard of or met to my knowledge.

He accuses me of making an outburst at Paul Sweeney MSP in my letter of December 1. No reasonable person would conclude that the remarks I made about Mr Sweeney could in anyway be classed as an “outburst”.

I recently met with Paul, and we had an amicable and useful discussion on Inchgreen and other related matters.

He was very clear that he wasn’t accusing the council or me personally of “a dereliction of duty over the dry dock”, as Mr Kerr claims.

Indeed, he was very supportive of the work the council is doing to promote redevelopment of the wider Inchgreen area and the potential benefits this could bring to the dry dock.

Mr Kerr also claims that Katy Clark MSP has “questioned the council’s decision to get into bed with Peel”. If that is the case, Katy certainly hasn’t raised that matter with me.

Regarding my council colleague Colin Jackson signing the petition to renationalise Clydeport, he was perfectly entitled to do so in a personal capacity.

To my knowledge none of the other 21 members of the council have signed the petition and no member of the council has requested that the council as a corporate body supports it.

Mr Kerr talks of “previous mistakes”. Just to be clear, the council did not privatise Clydeport and the council was not responsible for the sale of Clydeport to Peel Ports. Equally the council has no power to renationalise Clydeport.

While in an ideal world, as a socialist, I would like to see all the public companies and assets privatised by the Tories in the 1980s and 1990s renationalised, it isn’t going to happen.

Meanwhile back in the real world the council will continue to work in partnership with Peel and use the influence we have through our joint venture company to try to bring private investment and jobs to Inchgreen.

I must be honest that the task of attracting investment and jobs to Inchgreen isn’t being helped by the ongoing attacks by Mr Kerr and others on Peel and the council.

Councillor Stephen McCabe

Leader of the Council

Elected Member Inverclyde East (Ward 1)