A leading councillor under fire for not giving up his seat after becoming an MSP has said he will give his townhouse salary to charity.
Conservative Tom Mason was elected to represent Rosemount and Midstocket on Aberdeen City Council at the local elections in May.
But he is now also taking a north-east regional seat at the Scottish Parliament due Ross Thomson quitting Holyrood after being an elected MP for Aberdeen South in the general election.
Mr Mason plans to continue his role as councillor potentially up to the next local authority election in 2022, although he will resign as deputy provost.
Now he has chosen to donate his councillor’s salary of just under £17,000 to the Gordon Highlander Museum and Sue Ryder Care.
The Gordon Highlander’s museum is currently seeking £300,000 to keep one of the city’s only five-star attractions open following a shortfall in revenue due to the downturn in the oil and gas industry.
The Sue Ryder charity has recently launched a capital appeal to allow its Dee View Court hospice and neurological care facility in Kincorth to support an additional 19 people.
Mr Mason explained that a relative of one of his former employees required full time care from the age of 18, and the support offered to them by Sue Ryder means the charity will always have a special place in his heart.
He said: “After accepting a seat in the Scottish Parliament I felt it right to pass on my councillor salary to two groups here in Aberdeen that provide something special.
“Both the Gordon Highlanders and Sue Ryder do a fantastic job, and I hope this donation will go some way into ensuring their future.”
Last week, Mr Mason’s party faced growing calls to hold a by-election for his council seat in Rosemount and Midstocket.
The Conservative, Aberdeen Labour and Independent alliance currently has a single member majority.
SNP group leader Stephen Flynn previously said: “I think it’s more than fair that Mr Mason donates his councillor’s salary to charity, but I also think a lot of people will be wondering why he’s donating his councillor’s salary rather than his MSP salary, which is worth at least £50,000.
“The right thing to do is for him to resign as councillor, and for a by-election to be held.”
