Banff councillor axed from top committee role after joining Reform

Banff councillor John Cox has been axed from a senior committee role he had held for three years – because he joined the Reform Party.

Mr Cox, a councillor for 30 years, has held the position since May 2022. He sits as an independent member despite joining Reform last October.

The veteran politician was kicked out of the SNP group in 2017. Council co-leader Conservative Stewart Adams called for Mr Cox to be removed from his role as vice-chairman of the business services committee.

The proposal went before a full council meeting earlier today, and following a vote, he was replaced by Lib Dem councillor Jeff Goodhall.

During the debate, Mr Cox stood up to defend his choice and role, stressing that his comments were not personal remarks towards the current leadership.

He said: “It’s no secret I stood as a Reform candidate in 2021 – it was on the ballot paper, I declared it openly, and no one batted an eye.

“But when Reform began to gain real traction after the elections in England, everything changed.

“The Conservatives clearly took fright, and lacking policies, it all turned very personal – in my view, they lost the plot.”

He claimed Tory higher-ups “put pressure on individuals” to ensure he was removed from the council coalition.

Mr Cox claimed: “Councillors, tied to MSPs, sought to pressurise me to resign from Reform or they would bring down the administration.

“I was not going to be bullied for the wider interests of the council.”

He added: “My political future was not going to be dictated to me from Tory headquarters.”

The Banff councillor said he “cares deeply about the erosion of local government and its independence”.

He also voiced his fear that decisions were being taken out of local members’ hands.

“For years, Aberdeenshire was the model council, with strong leadership, respectful relations, and dignity across party lines,” he said.

“Most of us came into politics to improve our communities and serve our constituents.

“Yet we’re becoming little more than an arm’s-length organisation for MPs and MSPs to dictate from the centre.”

Fellow independent councillor Robbie Withey backed Mr Cox and said he was “disappointed” to see the call for his colleague’s removal.

“I don’t see any reason why Councillor Cox needs to be ousted from this position,” the Huntly member said.

“I also think that the administration needs to get on and set the rudder of this ship straight instead of continually removing the deck chairs and rearranging them.

“That’s all we seem to be focused on, personnel issues and infighting within the administration.

“We’ve got far bigger things to worry about, and I’d like us to focus on that.”

Co-leader Anne Stirling clarified the situation by saying the call for change was not a personal attack on Mr Cox.

It is council policy that a member who is not within the administration can’t hold a senior committee position.

She added: “It’s just a practicality and a convention that it’s just not possible to continue with the arrangement as it was.”