Gordon MP Thomson Stands Down As An Aberdeenshire Councillor

SNP MP for Gordon, Richard Thomson, has written to the Chief Executive of Aberdeenshire Council to formally tender his resignation as a councillor for the Ellon and District ward of the local authority.

Mr Thomson - a former newspaper journalist - was elected as the Member of Parliament for Gordon at the December 2019 UK General Election. He was first elected to represent Ellon & District on Aberdeenshire Council in 2012 and served as the Vice-Chair of the Council's influential Scrutiny and Audit Committee from 2012-2015, before being appointed as Co-Leader of the Council in June 2015 at the head of a minority administration - a position which he held until the 2017 local government elections.

During that time, he oversaw a comprehensive review of the council's decision making processes; co-signed the Aberdeen City Region Deal; and introduced a business rates relief scheme to support local small businesses through the 2017 revaluation - the only one of its kind in Scotland.

Since 2017, Mr Thomson has led the main SNP/Labour Opposition Group on the council - a position he stood down from two weeks ago to be replaced by Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford Councillor, Gwyneth Petrie.

Speaking following his announcement, Mr Thomson said:

"It has been an honour and a privilege to have had the chance to serve as a Councillor for Ellon and District and as a member of Aberdeenshire Council. I'd like to thank everyone I've worked beside over that time who has helped me along the way and made it such a worthwhile experience.

"When I was first elected, it never occurred to me that I might end up leading the council just three years later. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to try to make the Ellon & District ward, as well as Aberdeenshire, a better place to be, and to be able to have helped so many people along the way.

"Since 2017, I've also thoroughly enjoyed leading the council opposition and helping a new group of councillors to find their feet. Under the leadership of Cllr Petrie, I know the group I'm leaving will be in excellent hands.

"Now the council budget process is completed and my SNP Group colleagues have had a chance to elect a new leader, the time is right for me to step back from the council and concentrate 100% on being the MP for the Gordon Constituency.

"While my role might have changed, my determination to make the North East and Scotland the best they can be most definitely hasn't. I look forward to continuing to work alongside all Aberdeenshire Council colleagues as we deal with the current pandemic and everything beyond."