Tory leadership row branded a 'shambles'

A Labour councillor says he's "appalled" by how quickly the Conservative administration of Moray Council has run into problems.

Sandy Keith (Elgin North) has commented following the news that Neil McLennan (Buckie) is now no longer the co-leader of the Moray Tory group.

Earlier this week Cllr McLennan stated he had resigned from the post due to an unwillingness amongst his local party colleagues to tackle bad behaviour.

He added that, for the meantime, he was also leaving the party and sitting as an independent.

However the other co-leader of the Conservatives, Kathleen Robertson (Forres), later responded that cllr McLennan had been removed after a vote of no confidence due to his own behaviour.

Commenting upon the situation on behalf of the Labour party, cllr Keith said: "It seems that Tory leadership crises are not the exclusive domain of Westminster.

"Less than two weeks ago, the Moray Council was treated to a sermon on the virtues of 'cohesive, co-operative, and collaborative leadership' by cllr McLennan, seconded by Green member, cllr Van der Horn.

"Neither cllr McLennan, nor anyone from the Conservative administration, felt the need to disclose to the council that on the same day they were in the process of removing their co-leader and throwing the council into yet another period of instability.

"Cllr McLennan’s departure from the Conservative group means that the minority administration is even more minor.

"I’m appalled that it is necessary to revisit the council’s scheme of administration after a mere two months, but this is the shambles we have been gifted by the Tories."

The Conservatives formed a minority administration to run Moray Council following the local elections on May 3.

Although their number of councillors has now dropped by one to 10 out of 26 they still remain the largest political party.

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