No-confidence vote for Highland councillors who voted to allow rapist to keep taxi licence

A motion of no confidence has condemned Highland councillors who allowed the family of a convicted rapist the renewal of his taxi operator’s licence in his name.

Six male councillors backed the licence renewal at a private meeting in June, outvoting the four women colleagues on the local authority’s licensing committee – and ignoring the advice of Police Scotland.

David Brown from Croy was sentenced to almost seven years in jail in May for raping an 18-year-old woman passenger in 2023.

In the wake of a public furore over the issue, one committee member, veteran Caithness councillor Willie Mackay, quit the council.

Highland Council’s licensing committee members clockwise from top right: Councillors Duncan MacPherson, Willie Mackay, Ruraidh Stewart, Chris Birt, Sean Kennedy, and John Grafton Highland Council

The convener, leader of the council and leader of the opposition brought forward a motion of no confidence in councillors Sean Kennedy, Chris Birt, John Grafton, Ruraidh Stewart and Duncan MacPherson at a full council meeting in September.

Councillor Birt was suspended by the SNP, while the four other committee members have resigned from the committee.

Council convener Bill Lobban told a full council meeting in Inverness this morning that the issue had brought shame on the organisation and was a “fundamental betrayal of public trust”.

He said it was a “profound lapse in moral judgement” and a disregard for public safety”.

He said it amounted to “staggering complacency” and that “a massive public backlash was justified”.

Councillor Lobban said he had “lost faith” in the licensing committee members concerned and that the council needed to “rebuild trust” by making the male committee members “fully accountable” for their actions.

Many colleagues echoed the sentiments.

The no-confidence vote resulted in 56 votes for the motion against the 5 committee members, 6 disagreed, and 5 councillors abstained.

The decision to continue the taxi operator’s licence is currently being investigated by the ethical standards commissioner.

A breach of conduct by Highland councillors would be referred to the Standards Commission.