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Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tory council leader steps down over 'jobs for pals' recording
The leader of South Ayrshire Council has temporarily stepped down over a secret recording in which he appears to suggest he can help award contracts to "pals". The Sunday Mail reported that it was given a 2023 tape of Martin Dowey, in which he calls council officers "useless" and boasts that "all the top ones I can sack". The Conservative councillor also appears to promise help to secure multi-million pound demolition jobs - including work at Ayr's fire-damaged Station Hotel. Cllr Dowey, 56, said he had "acted properly at all times" and requested a full investigation to "clear this up". He said: "As a former police officer, I respect the law and follow the rules at all times. "I reported this situation to the authorities when it occurred, and the company in question has not received any money from the council." Cllr Dowey was a police officer in Ayrshire for 25 years before being elected in 2017. He was a previously general election candidate for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock and is married to Scottish Tory MSP Sharon Dowey. He added: "I have decided to step aside temporarily as leader to prevent this becoming a distraction from important local issues. "I would welcome a further detailed investigation to fully clear this up." A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We are in receipt of correspondence, and it is currently being assessed."
Daily Record
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Tory chief Martin Dowey urged to 'step aside' as South Ayrshire Council leader by Labour group
South Ayrshire Council leader, Martin Dowey, has been urged to stand aside while cops probe allegations he promised to help "pals" win multi-million pound contracts. In a bombshell recording which emerged yesterday , Tory council chief Dowey was heard branding his officials as 'f***ing useless' and boasted: 'All the top ones I can sack.' Opposition politicians have now rounded on Dowey, insisting his position to lead the authority is "untenable". Dowey has denied any wrongdoing following the emergence of the tape from 2023, which appears to record him telling a businessman that he can help him win work - including a deal to demolish the former Station Hotel. Police have confirmed they have received correspondence in relation to the meeting which is 'currently being assessed' by officers. Duncan Townson, who heads the council's Labour Group, said the probe made Dowey's position as leader untenable. He said this morning: "In order to protect the reputation of the Council during the investigation, Cllr Dowey has no choice but to step aside and allow another councillor from within his Group, not linked in anyway to the ongoing investigations, to take over leadership at this time, due to the very serious nature of the allegations. In short I believe his position at this time is untenable." Labour MSP, Carol Mochan, added: "There is no justification for this. It degrades trust in the council. His position is untenable."
Daily Record
27-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Tory council chief recorded appearing to promise multi-million pound contracts for 'pals'
A council leader has been recorded appearing to promise to help 'pals' win multi-million pound demolition contracts. In a tape passed to the Sunday Mail South Ayrshire 's Conservative leader Martin Downey calls officers at his local authority 'f*****g useless' and boasts: 'All the top ones I can sack.' And he appears to tell the businessman he can help him win work including a deal to demolish Ayr's fire ravaged Station Hotel . Dowey has denied doing anything wrong and claims he informed police of the meeting himself in 2023. Police have confirmed they have received correspondence in relation to the meeting which is 'currently being assessed' by officers. In the recording of a meeting at the council's offices in 2023 Dowey - a former police officer - states: 'You will be told the quotes are coming out. You put in your price, we will give you a guestimate of what is happening. 'If you are in the last three you will get the quote. You will get it. That's easy, that's not a problem. 'The problem arises if you are not in the final three, I can't do anything about that, so it's up to us getting a proper price from you. He added: 'If you are in the final three we decide who we pick but if you are not in the final three I can't say 'wait a minute, my pals aren't on it' or whatever, you canny say that.' Discussing Ayr's Station Hotel, which was being demolished after a fire, the businessman asks: 'Is that a definite for us to get that one?' Dowey answers: 'Nobody else can do it, we have had companies out before you arrived on the scene, they don't know how to do it, they are struggling, you put it in, you put your bid in. Don't email Mike, put your bid in as normal and you will get the contract.' After conversation moved to a council building programme Dowey said: 'The latest I have been told it will be £12.6million to do the flats. They might if they hear other people are about bump that it would need to be a really competitive price for that...£10.2million or £10.3million. He added: 'Officers have been hammered so much by getting shafted they are so wary they don't want to do anything. 'Half of this is my problem because I'm f*****g shouting and bawling and telling them they are f*****g useless and all the top ones I can sack.' Towards the end of the meeting Dowey tells them: 'We have a beautiful future coming. 'Everything is fine with us guys it's not an issue. If it's any consolation I'm happy with your work. Have you not had an ice cream yet.' Dowey also said: 'Councils are slow guys, trying to get something from a council is a nightmare, they are reasonably quick at paying but they are slow at doing anything.' Dowey, 56, spent 25 years as a police officer in Ayrshire. The dad-of-three is married to Tory MSP Sharon Dowey and was a Conservative general election candidate in Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock last year. When we contacted him for comment he said: 'I'm a former police officer. I know the law and I respect it at all times. 'I reported the approach from this individual to the police and the local authority myself long ago because I suspected something was not right with their approach. 'I did not help this company to win any contract. They have not received any money from South Ayrshire Council.' A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'We are in receipt of correspondence and it is currently being assessed.' A spokesperson for the Council said: 'We note that this matter is with Police Scotland, and it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.'
