I was booted out of SNP after I spoke out on taxes
A LONG-serving SNP councillor claims he was kicked out of the party because he spoke out against tax rises and supported Brexit.
Banff councillor John Cox, once tipped to lead the SNP group on Aberdeenshire Council, has launched a scathing attack on the party’s leadership, accusing them of wanting ‘yes men’ over local politicians who stand up for constituents.
He says he has not been allowed to stand as a party candidate for the upcoming local elections because he has refused to toe the party line on issues such as business rates rises, council tax reform and the EU referendum.
Last night, he told the Scottish Daily Mail: ‘One of the reasons given for me not getting through vetting was the fact that the party was not for Brexit.
‘They do not like people going against SNP policy but I would be signing my political death warrant by abiding by centralised policies.
‘The party wants more of the same – people that will support their parliamentarians, be there to vote and be foot soldiers for the parliamentarians. But that ignores that people are getting fed up of the establishment politicians.’
In recent months Mr Cox, who has been a councillor for 30 years, has railed against the SNP leadership for failing to support firms facing massive increases in business rates.
He said: ‘For me, the final straw was a briefing note sent by Councillor Stephen Smith, husband of MP Eilidh Whiteford, saying nobody would be out of pocket.
‘One business I know will see their bill rise from £10,000 to £34,000, and I know of a small baker who, with taxes, increases in the minimum wage and other pressures, will see £30,000 added to overheads in one year. That shows the economic climate out there.’
He added: ‘I am not personally attacking anyone but there seems to be this culture of centralised domination in the SNP.’
Mr Cox said he raised concerns about council tax reform, which will force up bills for people living in bands E-H homes. And he accused the SNP of ‘scaremongering’ on the implications of Brexit, which he had supported.
Mr Cox said: ‘There are organisations which could lose market share because of scaremongering about the consequences of Brexit.
‘Diktat from the SNP is just fear and they also say vote for independence and we will be tied to Europe.’
Peter Chapman, Scottish Conservative MSP for the North East, said: ‘It is no coincidence that a veteran councillor like John Cox is no longer wanted by the SNP after speaking out against business rates rises and publicly backing Brexit.
‘He deserves credit for standing up for his community and refusing to blindly toe the party line.
‘Mr Cox is also right to challenge the SNP leadership on their handling of the rates crisis and their treatment of the North East in general.
‘It is a sad indictment on the state of the SNP that Mr Cox has to stand as an independent to properly represent his area. This whole episode exposes the SNP as a party that simply does not tolerate dissent of any kind.’
Mr Cox will fight the council elections in May as an independent.
Councillor Richard Thomson, leader of the SNP group on Aberdeenshire Council, said: ‘John spent several months at the start of the year boycotting group meetings because he was unhappy with the direction of the administration – a protest the group chose to ignore.
‘Ever since his return he has been on a steady and self-directed journey towards the fringes.
‘It’s very sad because John has a lot to offer when he channels it in the right way. Nobody wants a “yes man”, but in any political group you have to be willing to make common cause with others. All too often, John would be in a minority of one yet would still be the tail trying to wag the dog.’