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Press and Journal
4 days ago
- Politics
- Press and Journal
Inside Aberdeenshire council chaos as Nigel Farage picks Tories apart
Aberdeenshire was a rare glimmer of hope for the Tories at the last local elections but that optimism is at risk of evaporating entirely while the Reform party surges. Four councillors have defected, and others are backing Nigel Farage, while the administration wobbles. And now the Reform leader himself is coming to the north-east for a campaigning visit as he hopes to tempt more politicians and voters, while exploiting anger over the future of oil and gas. How did it get to this point in the troubled Aberdeenshire Council administration? The Press and Journal has spoken to party insiders across the local political divides, who paint a picture of a team struggling with bitter feuds and defections. 'It's an absolute shambles,' one council insider told the Press and Journal. 'The administration is about to implode.' The simmering tensions really bubbled over in May when council leader Gillian Owen was forced to quit as local Tory group leader after she branded her own colleagues 'f***ing b*****ds'. Stewart Adams stepped in to replace her. But sources say there's no guarantee he'll head the council when Ms Owen formally leaves her post. That's not expected to happen until the council meets on June 26. In the 2022 council elections, the Tories returned 26 members in Aberdeenshire and retained control of the local authority. They currently rule with support from the Liberal Democrats and an aligned group of seven independent councillors. But that agreement looks precarious ahead of crunch negotiations after four Tory defections to Reform and further exits from the party locally. It's understood the Lib Dems and independents want to revisit their current cooperation agreement. If that doesn't work, options are limited and could rely on a partnership with the SNP. Aberdeenshire Lib Dem leader Anne Stirling has been touted as a possible council chief. 'She's a formidable force,' said one council insider. 'She's a very strong leader.' Publicly, the Lib Dems are staying tight-lipped on anything formal. Gwyneth Petrie, who leads the SNP in Aberdeenshire, said her party is 'open' to talks. 'There is no stability,' she told the P&J. 'A change would be welcome. 'It's clear the Tories are a very unhappy and disjointed group.' That unhappiness became apparent when two former Conservatives, Mark Findlater and Laurie Carnie, joined Reform last year. They were the first councillors to defect to Nigel Farage's party in Scotland. More recently they were joined by Ellon's John Crawley and East Garioch councillor Dominic Lonchay. Bitter feuds and lasting recriminations mean it's unlikely Reform councillors will work with the Tories. Mr Findlater, for example, led Aberdeenshire Council for the Tories until he was ousted in 2023. Reform insiders go further. They say they don't care if the Conservative administration collapses – even if it lets the SNP in the back door. 'We're between the devil and the deep blue sea at the moment,' a Reform source said. 'It really doesn't matter.' Aberdeenshire's Reform contingent is instead looking to the 2027 local elections. 'We'll be able to hold our own, and be a force,' the source told us. The Tories are no kinder to ex-Reform colleagues. Sources claim their old friends achieved little as councillors prior to defection. One said Mr Lonchay only joined Reform because he failed vetting to run for the Tories in next year's Holyrood election. Another source claimed Mr Lonchay 'threw his toys out the pram'. Despite the upheaval, the Conservative group just wants to appear like business as usual. A Tory spokesperson said: 'Under Stewart's leadership, we will continue to focus on the priorities that matter to the people of Aberdeenshire.' On Monday, Mr Farage will open a new front in that contest. He's expected to be in the city in the morning before joining the campaign in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse Scottish Parliament by-election.
Press and Journal
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Press and Journal
Aberdeenshire leader Gillian Owen says sorry AGAIN in fresh text insult row
Aberdeenshire council leader Gillian Owen is embroiled in a fresh row as she was forced to say sorry to a councillor from a rival party for a 'horrible' insult. The local authority boss – who quit as Tory group chief on Monday – wrote a grovelling letter of apology, seen by the Press and Journal, for offensive remarks made in a WhatsApp group. It comes after the P&J revealed she had branded her Tory colleagues 'f***ing b*****ds' in sweary texts. Ms Owen said the councillor had every right to be 'upset, angry and disgusted' by her latest insult. 'I want to sincerely apologise for the callous and insensitive post that I shared on our group WhatsApp chat,' her apology reads. 'The content does not match my values or respect for you as a colleague. 'I had a complete lapse in judgement, and I do deeply regret this, and I am so very sorry. 'The inappropriate post has acted as a wake-up call, as I am not usually that inconsiderate. 'You have every right to be upset, angry and disgusted, and I only hope you can find it in you to forgive such a grave error of judgment. 'Your reference to me being leader, is well made and quite honestly, I am mortified that I repeated such a horrible comment in the chat.' The Press and Journal has chosen not to publish the disparaging insult sent by Ms Owen. Private emails show she subsequently made efforts to stop Tory colleagues from discussing the row with the media. She claimed the matter had been 'concluded' due to her apology letter. A source said: 'This seems to be habitual behaviour. 'Instead of wasting time discussing other political parties, she should be focusing on issues that the council are facing. 'This type of behaviour has been endemic within the Conservative group, which is why so many have left.' Screenshots seen by the P&J also show the group's new deputy leader Tracey Smith, said she hoped to 'contain my laughter' at their next meeting following the insult. Ms Smith declined to comment on the row when contacted by the P&J. She said she was focused on the 'day job'. We earlier reported that Ms Owen had also apologised for using 'unprofessional language' after her rant directed at Tory colleagues. A source claimed this had 'upset' members of the Aberdeenshire Conservative group. Ms Owen quit as group leader on Monday morning – days after denying she had already resigned. She remains in post as council leader until June 26, when it's expected she will be replaced. Banff and District Councillor Stewart Adams has been picked to head the local Tory group. He will hope to take over as council leader if he can maintain the support of the Lib Dems and independents. The Aberdeenshire Tory group has been thrown into disarray in the past year. Last year, ex-Conservative councillors Mark Findlater and Laurie Carnie defected to Reform. Just days ago John Crawley – a councillor in the same ward as Ms Owen – also jumped ship to Nigel Farage's insurgent party. Last year Ann Ross left the group to sit as an independent over claims of 'bullying'. And recently Robbie Withey quit the party's council group to protest against nursery closures.
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Aberdeenshire Council Tory leader stands down
The leader of Aberdeenshire Council has announced that she is standing Owen said she would not seek re-election as leader of the council's Conservative group, which runs the coalition follows recent unrest within the party in Aberdeenshire - with one Conservative councillor resigning over nursery closures while another defected to will remain as leader of the local authority until next full council meeting on 26 June. The council is run as a Conservative, Lib Dem and independent has been leader of the Tory group since 2023 after Mark Findlater was ousted. Stewart Adams now takes over as group leader.A Scottish Conservative spokesperson said: "We thank Gillian for her dedication and hard work during her time as Aberdeenshire Conservative group leader."Under Stewart's leadership, we will continue to focus on the priorities that matter to the people of Aberdeenshire."
Press and Journal
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Press and Journal
Aberdeenshire Tory boss Gillian Owen quits as group leader days after denying resignation
Aberdeenshire council boss Gillian Owen has quit as local Tory leader days after denying she was headed for the exit door. The under-siege council leader has been under pressure since we reported she called her own Conservative colleagues 'f***ing b*****ds' in text messages earlier this month. A source told the P&J they were 'disgusted' by the remarks which undermined Ms Owen's hopes of remaining in the top job. It's understood Ms Owen will formally remain in post as council leader until a local authority meeting on June 26. The Ellon councillor told The Press and Journal on Friday she had not stood down despite sources giving a detailed account of her effective resignation. Today, the party confirmed she wrote to the local branch last week to say she would not be staying on as group leader. She told the P&J on Friday: 'I haven't resigned. My role has not changed. 'There's a Scottish Conservative and Unionist group meeting on Monday. 'It would be speculating to say anything more.' Banff and District Councillor Stewart Adams now replaces her in the group leader job with Councillor Tracey Smith as deputy. The Tories currently control Aberdeenshire with the support of the Lib Dems and local independent councillors. The Aberdeenshire Tory group has been engulfed in chaos over the past year. Three ex-Conservative councillors – Mark Findlater, Laurie Carnie, and John Crawley – have all moved over to Nigel Farage's Reform. Last week, we reported Huntly Councillor Robbie Withey quit the local Tory group in protest against nursery closures. And in February last year Banchory councillor Ann Ross left the party over allegations of 'bullying'. A Scottish Tory spokesman said: 'We thank Gillian for her dedication and hard work during her time as Aberdeenshire Conservative group leader. 'Under Stewart's leadership, we will continue to focus on the priorities that matter to the people of Aberdeenshire.'
Press and Journal
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Press and Journal
New roundabout plotted for Toll of Birness as part of multi-million-pound upgrades project
A new roundabout could be constructed at the notorious Toll of Birness after a years-long campaign pleading for 'crucial' safety upgrades. This the latest ploy aimed at tackling traffic issues at the A90 junction known for being one of the worst accident blackspots in the region. It comes as a recent Nestrans survey shows there have been more fatal crashes on that stretch north of Ellon than on any other A-roads across the country. A speed camera was installed at the fork junction last year as traffic bosses looked at ways to improve safety and prevent more incidents. However, locals pleaded for a more long-term solution to the problem – with a recent petition calling for the upgrades amassing nearly 900 signatures. Nestrans has now compiled a list of options – including creating a roundabout at Toll of Birness and the Cortes junction – that could improve safety and cut journey times. The report was recently presented to the Aberdeen City Region Deal joint committee. The survey explained that there were three main problems that needed to be addressed – safety, journey time reliability and long journey times. Improvements are also needed to make traffic flow a bit easier during peak times, while also encouraging more people to use public transport. The Nestrans survey found that 85% of travellers would like to take the bus more often – but were only put off due to lengthy journey times. The long list of options was eventually narrowed down to four possible upgrades, focusing on the most problematic areas of the roads network around Ellon. Under this preferred option, lanes leading up to and exiting the roundabout would be improved. A bus lane would be created southbound leading to the A90 helping buses pass through the roundabout faster and ultimately reducing travel times. An acceleration lane on the A90 northbound exit would be added to allow motorists leaving the roundabout to overtake slower vehicles. This work is estimated to cost around £3.6m. Similar changes would be made to the Ellon North roundabout, with a bus lane added southbound on the A90 and a bus only slip road from Ellon to the A90 northbound. A cycleway will be added too, as well as an acceleration lane on both the A90 northbound and southbound to allow overtaking. This could cost around £3.8m. Meanwhile, the proposed roundabout at the Toll of Birness is expected to cost £1.9m. Paul Finch of Nestrans told the committee they also considered building a flyover at the junction, however, this option was not deemed 'beneficial'. A compact roundabout costing around £2.2m could also be added to the Cortes junction. Its design would be similar to the one proposed at the Toll of Birness, but smaller due to the homes at Lakeview Garden Centre and Cortes Loch nearby. Aberdeenshire Council leader Gillian Owen, who created and led the Why Stop at Ellon campaign, praised the 'significant' step forward. She said: 'This project is very dear to my heart. 'Connectivity is key and these interventions will be crucial.' The selected options will now move to a detailed technical design process and an outline business case will be drawn up for them.
