Aberdeen Conservatives have been accused of timing the resignation of a councillor to coincide with the death of a rival – with the opposition SNP saying it left a “bitter taste”.
SNP Bridge of Don councillor Sandy Stuart died this week, which means there will be a by-election in the ward.
But yesterday Conservative councillor Brett Hunt announced that he was resigning his position in the ward, leaving voters to elect elect two new councillors.
Mr Hunt resigned after persistent criticism of his globe-trotting job in the oil industry meant he could rarely attend meetings.
SNP depute group leader Jackie Dunbar said: “Brett Hunt hardly set foot in the Town House despite being elected over two years ago – something which hasn’t bothered the Tories at any stage.
“It’s therefore only right and proper that he has now belatedly decided to resign.
“However, timing this resignation to coincide with news of his fellow ward colleague passing away is deeply disrespectful and leaves a bitter taste.”
The Liberal Democrats are also looking to pick up a councillor in the suburb, with a potential national boost on Brexit possibly allowing the opposition group to increase their current three members.
Group leader Ian Yuill said: “The Liberal Democrat group welcome councillor Hunt’s decision, although it is long overdue.
“He has not been in a position to fulfil his role as a councillor as the people of his ward would expect.
“We wish him well in his future career – wherever in the world that might be.”
Labour are in a complicated situation with the by-elections, because all nine Labour councillors elected in 2017 are still suspended from the national party for forming an administration with the Tories.
Should a Labour candidate, selected by national party bosses, win one of the seats, it is unclear whether they would be suspended too if they joined the group or whether a separate Labour group would then exist outside of the suspended members.
At the last election, Bridge of Don elected two SNP, one independent and one Conservative, with Labour’s former finance convener Willie Young losing his seat.
When quizzed on whether he would stand again, Mr Young said “it is a matter for Scottish Labour” but added “never say never”.
Conservative group leader Douglas Lumsden declined to comment.
