THE SNP has hit out after it emerged Aberdeen’s depute provost has kept his role despite facing sexual harassment allegations.
Police are investigating claims Tory councillor Alan Donnelly, who represents the Torry and Ferryhill ward, behaved inappropriately towards a man last November.
A Scottish Tory spokesman confirmed Cllr Donnelly has now been suspended from the party.
However he will remain a member of the council’s ruling administration because the local Tory group follows a different constitution.
SNP group leader Cllr Stephen Flynn said the situation had caused “complete confusion”, with Cllr Donnelly currently banned from civic duties despite keeping his prominent position.
He said: “It is incomprehensible that Cllr Donnelly can be suspended from the Tory party yet be allowed to remain a leading figure in their council group, and administration.
“Beyond that, members of the public have already expressed their complete confusion as to how the Tory council group can see fit to apparently ban Cllr Donnelly from his civic duties yet retain him in his prominent role as depute provost.
“Despite the nature of these allegations being extremely serious the Tories at a national level seem to be at odds with their local council group as to what course of action should actually be taken.
“At this stage, the Conservative Party need to explain to the people of Aberdeen why a leading politician can be suspended from their party yet retain their standing, and position, in a local council group.”
Cllr Douglas Lumsden, Aberdeen City Council’s Tory group leader, said Cllr Donnelly had been told to stay away from group meetings as well as civic duties while the police probe continues.
However, he said: “We have a council group constitution and that clearly says that people can still be a member of the group as long as they have not been expelled from the party or left the party.
“He has not been charged with anything. He has not even been spoken to by the police. As far as I’m concerned he is absolutely innocent until proven guilty. If he was charged we would look at it again.”
He added: “I won’t be taking advice from the SNP on how to handle this incident after the chaos we have seen in their party over the Alex Salmond allegations.”
Cllr Lumsden said the Tory group will put forward a new candidate for depute provost at the next full council meeting on March 4 if the situation remains the same.
It is understood the complaint against Cllr Donnelly relates to an alleged incident at a civic function following Remembrance Sunday last year.
A Scottish Tory spokesman said: “As Alan Donnelly is currently suspended pending the outcome of a police investigation, we will not be making any further comment.”
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