Stevenson Comments on Moray Tory Turmoil

Commenting on the resignation of Cllr Walter Wilson from Moray Council’s Administration and the Conservative Party, citing fundamental differences on key issues and describing former Tory colleagues as ‘right wing extremists’, local MSP Stewart Stevenson said:

© See footnote

“Moray Tories seem to have a track record of their councillors resigning from the Conservative council group and Cllr Wilson is following in the footsteps of Council Convener Cllr Allan and Tory MP Douglas Ross, who was probably more often out of the Tory Group than in.

“Cllr Wilson has referred to his former Tory colleagues as “right-wing extremists” and has accused them of sacrificing public safety. Local people will be horrified that extremist views are prevalent within Moray Tories and one can imagine it must have taken a great deal of courage for Cllr Wilson to stand up and call them out on it.

“There’s no getting away from the fact that local authority budgets – just like the Scottish Government’s budget – are under pressure from Westminster cuts. However, the SNP councillors in Moray have consistently put forward constructive proposals and suggestions which could have saved millions but have not been acted upon.

“A good idea is a good idea, no matter who puts it forward and working constructively with other parties and independents was a hallmark of the SNP’s time in control in Aberdeenshire Council. Moray’s Tories and Independents could do well to follow that example and not just dismiss suggestions because they don’t fit with their right-wing dogma.”

---

Footnote on copyright for photo of Mr Ross

© www.parliament.uk, 2017

This photograph is licensed under the Open Government Licence 3.0.