Councillor quits just days after election

A newly elected councillor has resigned just days after being voted in.

Independent candidate Sandy Cooper was one of three councillors elected to represent the Elgin City North ward.

He had been undergoing training along with the other 26 elected members ahead of the first meeting of the new council next Wednesday.

But he has now handed in his resignation which will trigger a by-election.

In his letter to the council’s chief executive, Mr Cooper said: “After careful consideration, I wish to tender my resignation as councillor for Elgin City North ward.

“I apologise most sincerely for the great inconvenience and cost which this will involve.”

Meanwhile, there were calls for the SNP to suspend a recently elected councillor after he was charged with placing more than 4,000 0 Sandy Cooper was elected to represent Elgin City North bets on football matches. Henry Mcclelland, chairman of Annan Athletic, has been issued with a notice of complaint by the Scottish Football Association.

Mr Mcclelland was elected to Dumfries and Galloway Council last week.

The Labour general election candidate in Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweeddale Douglas Beattie said: “People in Dumfriesshire deserve better than this, so the SNP must suspend Henry Mclelland as a matter of urgency.”