Resignation of Moray councillor who moved to Egypt could cost taxpayer £40,000

If an under-fire Moray councillor decided to resign in the next three weeks, it would cost the taxpayer up to £40,000.

Independent councillor Neil McLennan, originally elected as a Conservative, has held a seat in the Buckie ward since the May 2022 council elections

However, he will now be answering his constituents’ emails from Cairo, Egypt, where he moved without any announcement.

Cllr McLennan has vowed to continue representing his Buckie ward, which is 2,500 miles away.

He made the move after taking a job as the deputy head at the secondary school at Malvern College, a British international school in the city. His previous teaching post was at Nairn Academy.

He will continue to receive his £26,000-a-year Moray Council salary.

The move has provoked little backlash from his fellow councillors. On the surface, that may seem unusual. However, they have good reason to tread carefully.

Should Cllr McLennan resign from his Buckie post before November 6, it would trigger a ward by-election, costing the taxpayer between £35,000 and £40,000 – far more than his £25,982 councillor salary.

November 6 will mark six months until the next council elections in May 2027 – meaning there is no requirement for the council to hold a by-election.

It could be that critics make their voices heard after this date.

The only councillor to publicly call for Cllr McLennan’s resignation so far is Derek Ross (Speyside Glenlivet).

He previously said: “He should do the right thing by the people of Buckie and Moray – resign and trigger a by-election.

“At the moment, he is not serving these people.”