SNP councillor handed two-month suspension for insulting taxi license applicant

A councillor has been suspended from Fife council duties for two months after he was found to have broken the Councillors’ Code of Conduct by the Standards Commission for Scotland (SCS).

Howe of Fife and Taye councillor David MacDiarmid was judged to have made “unnecessary and gratuitous” comments at Fife Council’s Regulation and Licensing Committee about a taxi driver who was seeking to renew his licence in 2015.

The taxi driver, who has not been named, was accused of inappropriate behaviour towards two previous wives and had a previous conviction.

MacDairmid allegedly said “I don’t know why two women would live with you never [mind] get married to you,” before calling the man “a bully”.

SCS determined that he had breached the code, which demands councillors act fairly and with impartiality, and that his actions had fallen below the standards expected of those in public life.

MacDiarmid said he had no recollection of making the comments but did not deny he had done so.

Michael McCormick, Chair of the Hearing Panel, said: “In this case, we were dealing with a councillor who has a great deal of experience in dealing with regulatory matters and he should have known how vital it is that not only did he act in a fair and impartial manner but was also seen to be doing so.

 “It was very clear that he had made insulting, personal remarks toward the taxi driver and as such, his actions brought the Council into disrepute and risked that public confidence in its processes was diminished as a result.

 “It is essential that all councillors are fully aware of the provisions in the Code and to ensure that they comply with them.

 “The Code of Conduct is in place to ensure the public can have confidence that the councillors they elect to represent them are holding themselves to a high professional standard.”