First Minister John Swinney on a previous visit to Shetland, said ‘the David Brown controversy has been terrible’ for Highland Council. First Minister John Swinney has said he thinks the “David Brown controversy has been terrible” after Highland Council failed to remove his taxi operators licences in June. But Mr Swinney added that “I think Highland Council properly and fully faced up to that in the decision that took place” at yesterday’s special meeting. As reported by the BBC on a visit to Dundee, Mr Swinney said: "The David Brown controversy has been terrible and I think Highland Council properly and fully faced up to that in the decision that took place yesterday." "I think this has been acknowledged by Highland Council - the wrong decision was made in the first place, and licensing authorities need to look at the implications of that decision."