Moray Labour councillor Ben Williams has criticised new proposals from Moray Council to have councillors give reasons for their absences.

The proposals, which were presented to Moray Council at a meeting on Wednesday, 27th March 2024, mean that councillors will be given the option to publicly disclose reasons for any absences, including illnesses.

However, Cllr Williams argued that this proposed system could be subject to abuse, commenting:

“Unfortunately, I have very little faith in the way politics is sometimes conducted.

An apology given under the fourth category could, I believe, be used as the subject of a political attack.

I don’t want to have disclose private information about myself out of fear of political attacks.

I don’t want other councillors to feel that they have to disclose private information about their, or their families’, health, out of fear of political attacks.”

Despite cross-party support, including both Labour Cllrs Sandy Keith (Elgin North) and John Divers (Elgin South), as well as Leader of the Council, Kathleen Robertson, and Depute Leader of the Council Donald Gatt, Cllr Williams’ motion, against the proposal, was defeated, with all-bar-one SNP councillor voting for the proposal.