Political pressure is continuing to build over Highland Council’s decision to allow convicted rapist David Brown to retain his taxi operator’s licence, with Reform UK Scotland becoming the latest party to call for action.
The party has called on Conservative councillor Ruraidh Stewart, the only remaining member of the council’s licensing committee who supported the decision and has not faced action from his party, to resign from the committee.
The intervention follows disciplinary action taken by both the SNP and the Scottish Liberal Democrats against councillors from their parties who also voted in favour of allowing Brown to retain his licence.
Reform UK Scotland has also called on the Scottish Conservatives to suspend Councillor Stewart, who represents the Eilean a’ Cheò ward, arguing that the party should respond in the same way as its political opponents.
Amanda Bland MSP, Reform UK Scotland’s Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice, said:
“The Scottish Conservatives have completely lost the moral high ground to lecture anyone on integrity or standards in public life.
“Time and again they have chosen self preservation over accountability.
“This scandal has been rumbling for two weeks, but Cllr Ruraidh Stewart hasn’t seen fit to make any public comment on this issue.
“This is despite huge local and national anger on the licensing committee’s decision.
“It’s clear that his position is no longer tenable. He should resign from the committee immediately.
“The Scottish Conservatives must also suspend Cllr Ruraidh Stewart without delay.
“Failure to act would send a clear message that protecting colleagues matters more than protecting public confidence.”
The licensing committee’s decision has attracted sustained criticism since it emerged that Brown, who is serving a prison sentence after being convicted of rape, had been allowed to retain his taxi operator’s licence.
The issue has prompted questions from across the political spectrum about the judgement exercised by members of the licensing committee and the wider impact the decision has had on public confidence in the licensing process.
The Scottish Conservatives have not publicly responded to Reform UK Scotland’s latest call.
