Moray Councillor Tracy Colyer resigns from committee after saying Save Our Surgeries Burghead and Hopeman campaigners should ‘get a life’ in virtual meeting gaffe

A councillor has resigned from the committee she chaired after a virtual meeting blunder saw her publicly claim GP surgery campaigners should “get a life” and a colleague makes her think: “for f***s sake”.

Conservative Councillor Tracy Colyer (Keith and Cullen) stepped down from the Moray Integration Joint Board, which controls health and social care, and apologised “unreservedly” after her comments were queried.

The statements came after today’s online meeting of the MIJB ended abruptly before restarting with just two participants - Cllr Colyer and a committee clerk.

During what she apparently believed was a private discussion, the committee chairperson suggested that minutes of meetings should include more details of discussions that took place.

Referring to Councillor Neil McLennan (Independent, Buckie), she said: “It might shut McLennan up sometimes”.

She added: "Half of us switch off when he opens his mouth.

"You think: 'For f***s sake.’”

She struggled to mask her frustration at him during meetings, she added, and said this meant "I have been slapped once or twice in the chamber" by fellow Conservative members.

In response to the “disrespectful” statements, Cllr McLennan said he was considering further action including a complaint to the Standards Commission, and said he has written to interim Chief Executive John Mundell.

Another topic of Cllr Colyer’s conversation was the Save Our Surgeries (SOS) group.

Today’s meeting considered a Scottish Government report about how closures of GP surgery branches in Burghead and Hopeman were handled.

She criticised campaigners for having only turned up to a handful of meetings.

Earlier this week, two SOS campaigners stepped down from a group which was intended to promote cooperation between campaigners and health and care services.

Cllr Colyer said: "Over 18 months - 17 meetings. And only five of them did SOS attend.”

Holding a piece of paper to the camera, she said: "I have the list.”

"They literally - one, two, three - four that they have attended out of the seventeen.

"They don’t hear what they want so they don't come.

"They want a surgery and they ain't getting one.”

Cllr Colyer also said she knew people in her ward who had to travel further than patients in Burghead or Hopeman to attend a GP.

"It’s their choice of where to live,” she added.

"I know something has been taken away but it wasn’t our choice to take it away.”

Discussing the surgery in Hopeman, she said: "It wasn’t ours to sell. We didn’t own it.

"We try not to own anything - because it costs too much."

With decisions about health and social care services, Cllr Colyer added: "People have to come with you.

"So many of them can't because they are blinkered and say: 'Oh, back in the day, my milk was delivered.’

"Well it isn’t delivered any more. You have to go to Tesco. Get a life."

Responding on behalf of the SOS group, campaigner Syanness Tunggal said the comments had showed a “lack of respect”, a “dismissive attitude” and a “continued intention to undermine our communities”.

In her apology, Cllr Colyer said: "It's extremely regrettable that an informal conversation that wasn't intended for broadcast was heard.

“I apologise unreservedly to those I spoke about in a disrespectful manner, there is no excuse for it and I’ll take any criticism of my comments on board.

“Given the open and professional dialogue the MIJB needs to have with the public, campaigners and fellow committee members, I feel the right thing to do is to stand down from my role as Board Chair and from the MIJB with immediate effect.

“This is a clear lesson on public life that I have learned the hard way and I once again offer my sincere apologies to those I may have offended with these off-hand remarks.

“I hope the stakeholders who engage positively with the MIJB can reflect that I take full responsibility for my comments and will continue to work with us in the interests of Moray's health and social care.”

Labour Councillor Sandy Keith (Elgin City North) was also among the subjects of conversation.

Cllr Colyer accused her colleague of mentioning SOS for political gain before the beginning of the pre-election period, which limits political statements, for the Elgin City South by-election.

She said: "We weren’t going to mention SOS, then Sandy whats-his-name [Keith] brought it up.

"It’s because we’ve got a by-election coming up.

"Today is the first day of purdah for the election.

"So after today they won’t be able to play any stunts.”

However, Cllr Keith said the comments were “absolutely shocking” and showed a “disgraceful” contempt for good-faith local campaigners.

Council leader Councillor Kathleen Robertson (Conservative, Forres) thanked Cllr Colyer for her “humility” in stepping down from the MIJB.

"I thank Cllr Colyer for the humility shown in offering her resignation as Chair of the MIJB and for her service in that role to date,” she added.

“I am very clear that this council must show respect and professionalism to all we work with and these comments are in no way acceptable for an Elected Member of this organisation.

“Resigning as Chair was the right thing to do and we have taken swift action to ensure this incident does not detract from the valuable work the MIJB is doing in its oversight of health and social care in Moray.

"Furthermore, we're investigating the technology failure that led to the webcast being restarted and will take appropriate action for any mitigations we need to put in place to avoid it in future."

Councillor Neil McLennan said: "I am taking full advice on this matter, as we speak.

“It does appear these comments were disrespectful to me and to wider public scrutiny.

“The comments may not have been for public consumption, however they were aired in public.

“Is my intention to make a complaint to the Standards Commission.

“I have written to the Chief Executive to ask his position on this incident and what action will be taken.

“I will also be interested in what action, if any, the Council Leader will take in this case.

“Others will consider how this incident reflects on members who have been asked to represent people and ensure appropriate governance and scrutiny.

“The public will also reflect on what this says about the Conservative Party today.

“Meantime, if I, as an elected member am being criticised for providing effective scrutiny and wishing to ensure accuracy in official Council documents, then that is very alarming.

“What is also concerning is the important role this person holds in the IJB where matters such as effective scrutiny and accuracy are vital for these services.

“I remain committed to serving the public and especially our most vulnerable; and to providing effective governance and scrutiny to ensure Best Value for Moray citizens.

“The public have seen many cases in the media of late where a lack of effective scrutiny can have devastating consequences and also concerning cases where attempts are made to undermine those highlighting serious concerns and providing effective scrutiny."

Cllr Sandy Keith said: “These are absolutely shocking remarks from Cllr Colyer.

“The contempt she has shown for decent local people campaigning in good faith is disgraceful.

“Given that her true colours have now shown there is absolutely no way Cllr Colyer can continue as a member of the IJB.

“She should resign immediately.

“Her comments are as idiotic as they are cynical.

“Cllr Colyer must have a strange sense of geography if she thinks Burghead and Hopeman surgeries are the burning issue on the doorstep in Elgin City South.

“Presumably she holds the same contempt for her Conservative colleagues, including the Council Leader, for joining marches to save these surgeries.

“I expect it will be awkward in the Conservative councillors’ room next week.”