Gordon MP stands down as an Aberdeenshire councillor
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MP for Gordon, Richard Thomson, has written to the chief executive of Aberdeenshire Council to formally tender his resignation as a councillor for the Ellon and District ward of the local authority.
Mr Thomson, a former newspaper journalist, was elected as the Member of Parliament for Gordon at the December 2019 UK General Election.
He was first elected to represent Ellon and District on Aberdeenshire Council in 2012 and served as the vice-chair of the Council's influential Scrutiny and Audit Committee from 2012-2015, before being appointed as co-leader of the Council in June 2015 at the head of a minority administration - a position which he held until the 2017 local government elections.
During that time, he oversaw a comprehensive review of the council's decision making processes; co-signed the Aberdeen City Region Deal; and introduced a business rates relief scheme to support local small businesses through the 2017 revaluation - the only one of its kind in Scotland.
Since 2017, Mr Thomson has led the main SNP/Labour Opposition Group on the council - a position he stood down from two weeks ago to be replaced by Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford Councillor, Gwyneth Petrie.
Speaking following his announcement, Mr Thomson said: "It has been an honour and a privilege to have had the chance to serve as a councillor for Ellon and District and as a member of Aberdeenshire Council.
"I'd like to thank everyone I've worked beside over that time who has helped me along the way and made it such a worthwhile experience.
"When I was first elected, it never occurred to me that I might end up leading the council just three years later.
"I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to try to make the Ellon & District ward, as well as Aberdeenshire, a better place to be, and to be able to have helped so many people along the way.
"Since 2017, I've also thoroughly enjoyed leading the council opposition and helping a new group of councillors to find their feet.
"Under the leadership of Gwyneth Petrie I know the group I'm leaving will be in excellent hands.
"Now the council budget process is completed and my SNP Group colleagues have had a chance to elect a new leader, the time is right for me to step back from the council and concentrate 100 per cent on being the MP for the Gordon Constituency.
"While my role might have changed, my determination to make the north east and Scotland the best they can be most definitely hasn't.
"I look forward to continuing to work alongside all Aberdeenshire Council colleagues as we deal with the current pandemic and everything beyond."
