THE Scottish Conservatives have been forced into an embarrassing U-turn after sending out a press release in which Douglas Ross celebrated avoiding library closures in Moray – which they now admit are still on the table.
Moray council leader Kathleen Robertson and deputy leader Donald Gatt were also quoted as celebrating avoiding the closures in a press release which said plans for seven library closures “will no longer be taken forward” and were "no longer on the table".
Moray Council was surprised by the statement, as finalised plans have not yet been decided.
The Moray Conservative group have now insisted they had not intended to give a "false impression" and clarified that the closures could still happen.
A spokesperson for the Conservatives said: "We apologise for any confusion that has been created by the earlier release that was put out.
"It was certainly not intentional to give any false impression that a final decision had been made in relation to any potential closure of libraries in Moray."
A spokesperson for Moray Council confirmed that the local authority has not decided on the closure of the libraries.
The Tory-run Moray Council stated that the comment by the Moray Conservatives “reflected the Conservative position, rather than the council position".
“From the council perspective, there has been no decision made yet.”
Richard Lochhead, the SNP MSP for the Moray region, wrote on Twitter/X: “This is simply astonishing.
"More total chaos from Moray Tories playing politics but it backfires and they’re letting down our local campaigners and librarians and council employees.”
This is simply astonishing. More total chaos from Moray Tories playing politics but it backfires and they’re letting down our local campaigners and librarians and council employees. https://t.co/mDjC1wHMis
— Richard Lochhead (@RichardLochhead) December 9, 2024
The result of the consultation on the future of Cullen, Keith, Burghead, Dufftown, Tomintoul, Lossiemouth, and Fochabers libraries will come out at the end of January.
“No formal decision has been made through the usual democratic process on the future of the proposal or indeed any future transformation of the libraries service,” confirmed Moray Council.
“Nevertheless, the response from the consultation process will be reported to council. Ultimately, elected members will make these formal decisions at council in the new year.”
