A former Dumfries and Galloway councillor accused of making a homophobic remark is to be the subject of a public Hearing by the watchdog that monitors the behaviour of those in public office.
Former Labour Cllr Tom McAughtrie is alleged to have posted what has been described as a homophobic comment on the Facebook page belonging to the Chairperson of a Dumfries and Galloway LGBT+ Group.
Mr McAughtrie, who served the Abbey ward of Dumfries and Galloway Council at the time the comment was posted, remained councillor until the local government election in May 2017, when he failed to secure re-election.
Now the Standards Commission for Scotland (SCS) will hold a Hearing at the Council Chambers in Dumfries from 9:30 on Tuesday, 13 February. The Hearing will be open for members of the public to attend.
If the Hearing Panel determines that the comment was disrespectful or discriminatory, it will represent a breach of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct. All councillors are required to adhere to the Code, which was produced and issued by Scottish Ministers in 2010.
It is claimed that former Cllr McAughtrie posted the comment using his council mobile phone and, in doing so, breached both the Council’s social media policy and the Code.
The Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland (CESPLS) who has carried out an investigation into the complaint, will present the case against former Cllr McAughtrie at the Hearing. The former councillor, or his representatives, will also have a chance to respond.
A three-strong panel of SCS Members will then adjudicate. If they find former Cllr McAughtrie breached the Code, they will decide on an appropriate sanction – which would see the councillor censured or disqualified. The decision will be made public on the day of the Hearing.
Convener of the SCS, Professor Kevin Dunion, said: “We hold our Hearings in public for good reason – so that the people of Scotland can clearly see both the standards of behaviour expected, and the penalties imposed on those who fail to live up to those standards.
“The SCS works to protect and reassure the public in Scotland that inappropriate or unethical behaviour by those in public office will not be tolerated.
“Anyone interested in finding out more about this case or seeing the ethical standards framework in action is very welcome to attend the public Hearing.”
The SCS works independently of Government and political parties. It promotes and enforces Codes of Conduct for councillors across Scotland, as well as individuals appointed to a wide range of national and regional public bodies such as the Accounts Commission, the Scottish Qualification Authority, Sport Scotland, Scottish Water and the Scottish Police Authority and many other organisations, including NHS Boards and further education colleges.
The Codes of Conduct it promotes are built around a series of key principles including honesty, integrity, leadership and duty.
Further information on the role of the SCS can be found at http://www.standardscommissionscotland.org.uk/
