Latest news with #EthicalStandardsCommissioner
Daily Record
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Labour council leader breached code of conduct over financial connection to company director
EXCLUSIVE: The Inverclyde council leader has apologised for the "inadvertent breach" of the councillors' code of conduct. A watchdog has ruled that a Labour council leader breached ethics rules by suggesting a property director he knew could become chair of Greenock's town board. Stephen McCabe named Lord Willie Haughey as a potential independent Chair despite the peer being a director of a firm which rented a house to the councillor. But the Ethical Standards Commissioner said no breach had occurred on the sale of the property or over the rental arrangement. McCabe, who leads Inverclyde council, was the subject of complaints to the Commissioner. According to the Commissioner report, McCabe rents his property from a company of which Haughey, a major Labour donor, is a director. In February 2024, the report states that McCabe informally suggested Haughey as a candidate for the non-remunerated position of Chair of the Greenock Town Board. The Commissioner stated: 'The Respondent did not declare an interest to the Council officers when he made this suggestion. [McCabe] was not part of the decision making when selecting the candidate. Lord Haughey was selected as Chair of the Greenock Town Board.' The Commissioner summarised the first of two issues considered as: '[McCabe failed to declare an interest when he informally suggested that the Council consider Lord William Haughey as a potential independent Chair for the non-remunerated position as Chair of the Greenock Town's Board despite there being a financial connection in that Lord Haughey is the Director of a company which owns and lets the Respondent's property to him.' The Commissioner concluded that the councillor did breach the councillors' code of conduct on this matter. He summarised the second issue under investigation as: 'The Respondent sold his property at a price below market value in order to continue living there. As such, he pays no rent or rent which is lower than the market rent to his landlord. Any different may amount to a gift either on a one off or continuing basis which has not been declared.' The Commissioner said on this issue McCabe did not breach the Code. McCabe told the Record: 'When I became aware in December 2024 that I may have inadvertently breached the Councillors' Code of Conduct I immediately took the highly unusual step of referring myself to the Ethical Standards Commissioner, more than seven weeks before complaints were submitted by the other two complainers. "I co-operated fully with the investigation by the Ethical Standards Commissioner, including sharing very personal information about my marriage break-down and my son's mental health. "I accept the findings of the Commissioner's report and apologise for my inadvertent breach of the Code of Conduct. During 30 years' service as a Councillor, I have never before breached the Code of Conduct. I have received refresher training from the Council's Monitoring Officer on the Code and on managing personal connections. 'I note that the Ethical Standards Commissioner has submitted his report to the Standards Commission for Scotland, and I would hope that considering my self-referral, apology and the refresher training I have undertaken, the Commission will be satisfied that I made a genuine mistake. I am pleased that the Ethical Standards Commissioner has found that I did not breach the Code of Conduct in relation to the sale of my house.'
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Aberdeen councillor suspended after "sexism" jibe
In December 2022, Ms Stewart, who represents the city's Hazlehead, Queen's Cross and Countesswells ward, accused Mr Cameron of sexism after being told she was 'going on' during a speech. Further altercations between the pair occurred during council meetings in March, April, September, and October 2023. The two Aberdeen councillors have been locked in a war of words for years. (Image: Getty) At the October meeting, Mrs Stewart, who sits as an independent, told the Lord Provost, a member of the SNP: 'You talk about respect. I have not had any. 'And perhaps Lord Provost, with the greatest of respect, if it is your age that is making a delay. You've been totally sexist to me throughout my whole time. 'I think you're absolutely a misogynist – a man who hates women.' Mr Cameron, then 77, then made a complaint against Mrs Stewart to the Ethical Standards Commissioner on the grounds she had failed to treat him with 'courtesy and respect' and had engaged in discrimination on the basis of age. At a hearing at Aberdeen's Town House in August 5th, representatives for the Ethical Standards Commissioner laid out their case against Ms Stewart's conduct. After deliberation, the former Depute Provost was found to be in breach and suspended for four months, which means she is unable to attend meetings or take part in votes. Ahead of the decision, Mrs Stewart told the panel: 'I've taken the oath and it's my opinion, valued judgement is that the complainer is a misogynist. 'He has been sexist towards me and he looked at me venomously, which may have been due to his age. 'I stand by my words.' David Cameron (L), pictured at the Aberdeen Highland Games. (Image: Norman Adams) She added: 'I would say this is a political spat not an ethical problem. My comments were political, they were a valued judgement. 'They may have been shocking, exaggerated, they may even have been provocative, shocking and perhaps aggressive. 'They may have been incorrect, but they were made at a time where chaos ensued in the council – In my 18 years I had not seen anything like that before.' Reacting to the decision, Malcolm Bell, a member of the Standards Commission and Chair of the Hearing Panel, said: 'The Panel found that, at various Council meetings between 14 December 2022 and 11 October 2023, Cllr Mrs Stewart was disrespectful towards the Lord Provost of the Council. 'The Panel further found that Cllr Mrs Stewart's conduct amounted to harassment and, in respect of one comment, to a personal attack on the Lord Provost based on his age.' Mr Bell added: 'The requirements for elected members to treat others with respect and to refrain from any conduct that could amount to bullying or harassment are key requirements of the Councillors' Code. 'The Panel noted that a failure to comply with the Code's provisions in these regards can adversely affect the rights and reputations of others. It also has a detrimental effect on the standards of public debate, which in turn erodes public confidence in politicians and the democratic institutions they represent.' Read more: 'Awa wi ye': What I saw at Donald Trump's frosty welcome in Aberdeen 'Anti-fascist' protestors heckle Farage during Aberdeen stop-over 'Historic convergence' of crypto and golf at Trump International in Aberdeen Serving as Depute Provost of the council between 2019 and 2022, Mrs Stewart made headlines in 2020 after accusing the SNP of carrying out a 'witch hunt' against her predecessor, who had been convicted of sexual assault whilst in office. Tory councillor Alan Donnelly had denied touching and kissing a man at an event in the city. However, he was found guilty in 2019 and ordered to pay compensation. As Mr Donnelly faced calls to resign from fellow councillors, Mrs Stewart told the BBC: 'My concern is that if he does stay on – what I see – is that there is a bit of a witch hunt to get him out. "I have suffered at the wrath for three years of what the SNP and the Liberal Democrats have been like at Aberdeen City Council and I know how they will go on their witch hunt as they did with me. 'That's what I see is going to happen to Alan. Whether he chooses to remain is his decision – but if they make his life so intolerable and uncomfortable it might be that he chooses to step aside.'
Daily Record
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
SNP council leader accused of printing out dossier about ousted election candidate
EXCLUSIVE: Cecil Meiklejohn is subject of a complaint that she misused council property to print out material about Toni Giugliano. An SNP council leader has been accused of printing out a dossier about an ousted election candidate. Falkirk's Cecil Meiklejohn is subject of a complaint that she misused council property to print out material about Toni Giugliano. It emerged on Monday that Giugliano had been removed from the internal ballot to represent Falkirk West. Meiklejohn's son-in-law Iain Sinclair was also standing in the selection. A source said: 'It appeared that Mr Giugliano was the one person standing in the way of her son in law becoming the candidate for this seat." Independent Falkirk councillor Brian McCabe made the complaint to the Ethical Standards Commissioner in October last year. The Ethical Standards Commissioner confirmed that it had received the complaint but said it could not comment further. The complaint - seen by the Record - alleged that Meiklejohn had printed off material about Giugliano on July 22 last year. This was less than three weeks after the general election - where Giugliano had been the Falkirk candidate. The complaint showed screenshots which seemed to show that Meiklejohn had printed off material sent from her personal email with the subject matter "WM [Westminster] candidate Toni Giugliano". It also showed screenshots of Giugliano's social media posts which had been sent from Meiklejohn's personal email and printed out. McCabe's complaint said: "Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, SNP Group leader, engaged in a continued and repeated grievance complaint against one of her SNP political colleagues, Toni Giugliano. That is a position she is quite entitled to hold. 'What she is NOT allowed to do is use Council printing equipment and stationery in support of this personal activity to prosecute her complaint against Mr Giugliano." He added: " She has abused her position by using the very limited resources of the council for entirely personal reasons. That is undeniable and completely unacceptable." The Councillors' Code of Conduct states that councillors are not to use council resources for anything other than council duties. A Senior Falkirk SNP source said: 'Cecil has gone too far. She's purely thinking about her own interests but she doesn't realise the damage she's doing to Falkirk SNP. "If she had any integrity she would step down as our Group Leader.' Meiklejohn has been the leader of Falkirk Council since 2017. Her son-in-law Sinclair and Giugliano were both running to replace former Health Secretary Michael Matheson as the MSP for Falkirk West next year - until Giugliano was removed from the ballot. But SNP councillor Gary Bouse was announced as the candidate on Tuesday evening. In October 2023 Giugliano's selection as the general election candidate for Falkirk reportedly caused a rift in the constituency group. Complaints were made to SNP HQ that Giugliano had placed pressure on local members to support him, had breached spending limits and had fabricated an endorsement. Giugliano rejected all the allegations and the complaint was thrown out following an investigation by then national secretary Lorna Finn. He then won the race by 19 votes, but was beaten by Labour's Euan Stainbank at the general election. A spokesperson for Cecil Meiklejohn said: "Any process involving the Ethical Standards Commissioner would be confidential, so it would not be appropriate to comment."
Daily Record
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Falkirk councillor referred to Standards Commission for hearing
The veteran councillor and former Provost of Falkirk will attend a hearing on June 5 A former Provost of Falkirk has been referred to the Standards Commission for Scotland. Baillie Billy Buchanan, one of Falkirk's longest-serving councillors, has been called to a hearing which will be held by the commission on Thursday, June 5 at 9.30 am. The commission, which aims to "encourage high ethical standards in public life" is responsible for investigating any breaches of Codes of Conduct for councillors. Complaints about alleged breaches are investigated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner (ESC) who then refers the matter to the Standards Commission for an adjudication. The hearing will be in public, but the venue has not yet been confirmed. Baillie Buchanan, who represents Bonnybridge and Larbert, said he is unable to comment at this stage in the proceedings. Anyone can complain to the Ethical Standards Commissioner if they believe a councillor has breached the Code of Conduct.
