Councillor resigns from Scottish Conservatives

Mark Findlater now plans to sit as an unaligned independent councillor

An Aberdeenshire councillor has resigned from the Scottish Conservatives.

Mark Findlater - who represents the Troup ward and is a former leader of Aberdeenshire Council - now plans to sit as an unaligned independent councillor.

Mr Findlater said he would not be drawn on the exact reasons behind his resignation. His former party said it wished him well.

The local authority is led by a Conservative, Liberal Democrat and independent coalition.

In a statement given to BBC Scotland News, Mr Findlater said: “CS Lewis said 'One of the most cowardly things people do is shut their eyes to facts'.

“Knowing what I know, and what is going to be expected of me, I have resigned as vice-chair of the Banff and Buchan Conservatives, and indeed as a Conservative.”

He added: “I am no coward. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. This is mine.”

Mr Findlater said he had informed the Scottish Conservatives of his decision on Monday morning.

The Scottish Conservatives said: “We thank Mark for his past contributions and wish him well for the future.”

Mr Findlater had been ousted as the head of the local Conservative party group last year at the group's annual general meeting (AGM).