A SCOTTISH Tory council leader has quit the role before he can be ousted by colleagues in a no-confidence vote next week.
Marc Macrae, the leader of Moray Council, faced the vote following allegations over his behaviour dating back to before he became convener at May’s council elections.
Councillors at the minority Tory administration wrote a letter demanding Macrae refer himself to the Standards Commission, and threatened a confidence vote should he not comply.
Now, Macrae says he will step down before next week’s scheduled vote as allegations about his conduct are “distracting” from his work in local government.
"Stepping aside as convener will enable me to clear my name of unfounded allegations,” he argued.
"At the moment these allegations are creating a distraction to the important work which I, and my fellow councillors within the administration, are trying to do.”
In a statement, it was also confirmed that Macrae had been speaking to the police about efforts to “discredit” him.
"With a former councillor making continued allegations and sending these to a wider distribution list in an attempt to further discredit him, with the backing of the Moray Conservative council group cllr Macrae has sought input from Police Scotland,” it stated.
After his election to the council convener position, former Tory colleague Frank Brown said Macrae was not a “fit and proper person” for the role.
It is understood that the concerns over Macrae’s behaviour relate to an alleged incident involving a complaint from Macrae about a council worker, sent to his manager.
Macrae said it wasn’t something he was “proud of”, but he had apologised for it.
Moray Council SNP group co-leader Graham Leadbitter (below) welcomed Macrae’s decision to resign.
"His claims that allegations against him are ‘unfounded’ give rise to more questions than answers,” he said.
"The past behaviour issues that led to the no-confidence motion are true and certainly not ‘unfounded’.”
He went on: "If he wants to set the record straight he should set out in detail the events he accepts did happen and the consequences of those events.”
Conservative group leader Kathleen Robertson said she “fully supports” Macrae’s intention to clear his name.
"I respect the way which councillor Macrae has handled this situation and have been impressed with his selfless approach which led to his decision,” she said.
Macrae will continue to serve as councillor for the Fochabers Lhanbryde ward.
