A Lib Dem councillor has quit his party “in disgust”, following a long-running row over the Trump resort and the MPs’ expenses scandal.
Sam Coull, who represents Peterhead, has served the Lib Dems for over 20 years.
Mr Coull, with Paul Johnston, Martin Ford and Debra Storr, earlier formed the Democratic Independent Group after quitting the Aberdeenshire Council Lib Dem group after a row over US the Trump plans for Balmedie.
Although Mr Ford had quit both the council group and the Lib Dems, Mr Coull, Ms Storr and Mr Johnston remained Lib Dem members.
The three were suspended in March this year and Ms Storr quit, saying she was not prepared to give leaders the satisfaction of expelling her.
Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott then said he hoped they would be reinstated.
Now, Mr Coull has announced his resignation, saying there was no chance of a “hugs and kisses” reunion.
His membership had expired in March. “I have written to Martin Hayman, the party’s chief executive, to let him know I shall not be renewing it. It seems entirely appropriate to call a halt to this weary charade.”
The row between the four councillors and their party followed their opposition to Mr Trump’s planned resort at the Menie Estate. It centred on Mr Johnston’s claim that the council had struck a £5million “sweetener” deal with the billionaire.
In October, Ms Storr put forward a motion supporting Mr Johnston against claims that his comments constituted a serious breach of the councillors’ code of conduct.
Members claimed she had broken the rules by opposing a council motion without giving notice to the leader. Mr Coull said: “I still cannot grasp why they had to take ‘friendly fire’ from our own side or why our collective 105 years of active service to the party meant so little. When I heard about Menzies Campbell (ex-Lib Dem leader) spending £10,000 of taxpayers’ money to refurbish a flat in London and Chris Huhne’s £119 trouser press, I knew it was time to call it a day.”