Moray councillor resigns just days after being elected

Sandy Cooper - Image credit: Moray Council

An independent Moray councillor has resigned just days after being elected.

Sandy Cooper was one of three councillors elected to represent the Elgin City North ward in Thursday’s election.

He delivered his resignation letter to Moray Council chief executive Roddy Burns yesterday.

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In his letter, 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.

“I am most grateful for the help, advice and assistance given by so many members of your staff during my training.

“I wish Moray Council every success in the future.”

He told the BBC that being councillor is “just not for me."

Cooper was elected as an independent with no party affiliation, but had vowed to give £1,000 from his councillor’s allowance to each of the five schools in his ward.

His resignation came just hours after the Press and Journal reported that Cooper had refused to confirm whether he would be keeping that pledge, which it's thought could have fallen foul of Electoral Commission rules on bribery.

The council’s 26 elected members have been undergoing induction and training this week ahead of the first meeting of the new council next Wednesday.

A by-election to elect a replacement in Elgin will be held on a date still to be decided, at an expected cost of around £25,000.