Councillor suspended for remarks about lord provost

A panel heard that Jennifer Stewart had made an "extensive contribution" to public life, but was also told of concerns about remarks about the lord provost

An Aberdeen councillor has been suspended for four months after a watchdog said she was "disrespectful" towards the city's lord provost.

A Standards Commission for Scotland hearing found Jennifer Stewart breached a councillors' code of conduct, and said her actions had the potential to cause "irrevocable harm" to the reputations of David Cameron and Aberdeen City Council.

The panel found her conduct amounted to harrassment and one comment she made was a personal attack based on Mr Cameron's age.

Mrs Stewart said she stood by what she had said and was considering her next steps.

Mr Cameron said he was relieved the complaint had reached a conclusion.

The breaches happened at council meetings between December 2022 and October 2023.

A Standards Commission for Scotland report said Mrs Stewart made various personal remarks about the lord provost.

It said: "The panel found that these remarks either directly accused the lord provost of being, or inferred clearly that he was: sexist, a misogynist who hated women, displaying religious intolerance, engaging in intimidatory behaviour and of treating Mrs Stewart differently, due to her sex."

The panel said the accusations were "inappropriate and offensive".

It also noted Mrs Stewart had complained about the lord provost to the Ethical Standards Commissioner, and that the commissioner had not found any breach of the code by him.

'I am relieved'

Tuesday's hearing heard about Mrs Stewart's "extensive contribution to public life".

But it was also told of concerns that she had not apologised, or shown any insight into the impact of her conduct or the disruption that it caused.

After the hearing, Mrs Stewart said: "Let's just say I am considering my next steps.

"I don't think they should've suspended me at all.

"Maybe my words were harsh but that is just the rough and tumble of the chamber."

Mr Cameron said he was relieved the complaint had reached a conclusion after two years.

He added: "I take no pleasure in knowing Councillor Stewart has been found to have breached the Councillors Code of Conduct.

"However, hopefully this can be put behind us and I can get on with my role in the council for the benefit of the citizens of Aberdeen."