TWO Scottish Labour councillors have been slated after voting to protect an MP from their party from criticism – while working for him.
At a meeting of Stirling Council, SNP elected members put forward a motion condemning the UK Government's cut to the Winter Fuel Payment, asking the council leader to write to Stirling and Strathallan MP Chris Kane to express concerns over his support for the move.
Despite declaring an interest in advance of the vote – and committing to fellow councillors they would not participate – Labour councillors Danny Gibson and Jen Preston voted down the SNP motion.
Gibson and Preston's register of interests make clear that they are both on Kane's payroll, with Preston working as his administrative manager.
SNP councillor Gene Maxwell said the vote was an “incredibly serious matter of conduct” and he will be seeking to “take the matter further”.
He said: “The Standards Commission for Scotland makes it perfectly clear that declarable interests prevent councillors from participating in a council discussion or decision.
“I am shocked these two councillors declared their interest yet voted to protect Chris Kane regardless.
“These are incredibly serious matters of conduct in public office and upholding democratic standards. The communities I represent deserve better from Stirling Council, and I will be joining SNP colleagues in taking these matters further.”
Gibson has been appointed convener of the council’s children and young people committee and head of a “short-life” working group which will oversee efforts to tackle bullying and harassment in the city’s schools.
He was suspended from taking part in council business for five months last year after he was found to have breached the councillors’ code of conduct for behaving disrespectfully towards council officers and bullying a senior council officer.
SNP councillor Susan McGill said the Labour and the Tory groups – which together run the administration – were taking the people of Stirling “for fools”.
She said: “The scandal of this Labour-led, Tory-backed council knows no end.
“Labour and the Tories are taking the people of Stirling for fools, and their behaviour will leave deep scars on the politics of Stirling and reputation of Stirling Council for years to come.
"We now have six Tory and Labour councillors working for MSPs and MPs on the side. I worry how many of them have failed to declare an interest in much of the council’s decision-making since the last election.
“This is certainly not the end of the matter, and I will be seeking further legal clarity.”
Gibson and Preston have been contacted for comment.
