Politicians condemn disgraced councillor’s re-election attempt
Politicians have slammed a disgraced councillor’s intention to run again in this year’s local elections.
Independent Larkhall representative Jackie Burns was found guilty of a breach of the peace last year, but has refused to step down from his role at South Lanarkshire Council (SLC).
A sheriff branded his actions “everyone’s nightmare, particularly a woman’s in the present climate” and banned him from using public transport after pestering a passenger.
That followed a similar incident involving a teenager four years before.
His former party Scottish Labour called his decision to remain a councillor “outrageous” and an insult to locals in his ward, adding that his actions were “shameful”.
Fellow councillors and a Lanarkshire MSP all agree he should go, with Labour’s local team criticising his decision to run for re-election in May.
Councillor Andy Carmichael and former councillor Lesley Mcdonald will be standing as the official Larkhall Labour candidates.
Ms Mcdonald said: “No councillor should be untouchable or above the law.
“It is concerning that Councillor Burns still feels he is fit for public office and intends to seek election again.
“The Labour Party withdrew support for Councillor Burns five years ago and it is outrageous that he remains a councillor to this day.
“It is an insult to the people of Larkhall and to the Labour voters he let down.
“After five shameful years, he must finally do the right thing and stand down from public office.”
Councillor Carmichael added: “I feel that he has let down the people who voted for him and all the people in Larkhall and condemn his actions.”
Councillor Burns chairs the council’s Petitions Committee.
Central Scotland MSP Monica Lennon has also called for Mr Burns to be removed from his position, adding: “A sheriff concluded Jackie Burns was every woman’s nightmare and banned him from public transport.
“If you are unfit to sit on a bus, how can you be trusted to take a seat in the council chambers? He should be nowhere near public office. SLC is sending out all the wrong messages by allowing him to lead this important committee.”
Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative councillor for Larkhall, Richard Nelson, agreed, saying: “Regardless of what Mr Burns has achieved in his long career as a councillor, I would urge him to do the decent thing and not seek re-election in May.
“I understand the public outrage at the thought of him standing again – and indeed chairing committee meetings now – because his behaviour was unacceptable and fell well below the standards people expect from their elected officials.”
Mr Burns, 57, was found guilty of breach of the peace at Hamilton Sheriff Court in July 2021. He made a grab for a 39-yearold woman alone on a bus at night who said she was “terrified” after Burns kept staring then grabbed her.
Burns was cleared of sexually assaulting the woman by touching her breast and trying to kiss her.
But Sheriff Ray Small told him: “You were what might traditionally be called a nuisance drunk”, before fining Burns £270 and ordering him to pay the woman £400. He was also banned from travelling on buses and trains in South Lanarkshire when under the influence, for two years.
The criticism of him remaining in his SLC post comes after national charity Rape Crisis Scotland spoke out over the controversy this week.
Helen Provan, director of the organisation’s Lanarkshire centre, said: “The nature and context of Mr Burns’ recent offence is in stark contrast with local authority priorities, particularly in relation to community safety and Equally Safe – the agreed strategy to prevent and eradicate Violence Against Women. For an important role representing the interests of all members of the community it should be upon councillors to uphold high standards of behaviour, integrity and conduct and to be someone you can go to if you have local concerns about crime and disorder.
“It is very concerning that the eligibility criteria for election to this position of authority and influence is set at such a low bar, and not in line with standards set in other types of work. Robust measures should also be put in place to formally address a serving councillor’s position if these happen while in post.”
Councillor Burns was contacted, but refused to comment.