Findings of Standards Commission Hearing - Councillor Tommy Macpherson
Argyll and Bute Council · 26 November 2025
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COUNCIL MONITORING OFFICER 26TH NOVEMBER 2025 FINDINGS OF STANDARDS COMMISSION HEARING – COUNCILLOR TOMMY MACPHERSON 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 Section 18(2) of the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 requires the Council to consider findings of a Hearing held by the Standards Commission for Scotland within three months of receiving the Commission’s Written Decision. 1.2 Accordingly, a Written Decision of the Hearing Panel in relation to a case against Councillor Tommy MacPherson (Ward 1, South Kintyre), is produced in full at Appendix 1 for consideration by the Council. 2.0 RECOMMENDATIONS The Council is invited to: 2.1 Consider the terms of the Standards Commission’s Written Decision, attached as Appendix 1, which details the findings of the Hearing held on 7th October 2025.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COUNCIL MONITORING OFFICER 26TH NOVEMBER 2025 FINDINGS OF STANDARDS COMMISSION HEARING – COUNCILLOR TOMMY MACPHERSON 3.0 INTRODUCTION 3.1 The full Written Decision of the Standards Commission’s Hearing Panel, dated 14th October 2025, in respect of a complaint against Councillor MacPherson is attached as Appendix 1. 4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS The Council is invited to: 4.1 Consider the terms of the Standards Commission’s Written Decision, attached as Appendix 1, which details the findings of the Hearing held on 7th October 2025. 5.0 DETAIL 5.1 At the conclusion of a Hearing held online on 7th October 2025, the Standards Commission for Scotland found that Councillor MacPherson had, on the face of it, breached the provision in the Code of Conduct for Councillors that requires elected members to treat others with courtesy and respect (Section 3.1) in a Facebook post published in September 2024. 5.2 The Standards Commission’s Hearing Panel found, however, that a restriction on Councillor MacPherson’s right to freedom of expression could not be justified in the specific circumstances of the case and, therefore, that a formal finding of breach could not be made.
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6.0 CONCLUSION 6.1 Section 18(2) of the 2000 Act requires the Council to consider the findings of a Hearing held by the Standards Commission for Scotland within three months of receiving the Commission’s Written Decision. 6.2 Appendix 1 accordingly sets out the full details of the findings before Members for their consideration. 7.0 IMPLICATIONS 7.1 Policy – None arising from this report. 7.2 Financial – None arising from this report. 7.3 Legal – This report has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Section 18(2) of the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000. 7.4 HR – None arising from this report. 7.5 Customer Service – None arising from this report. 7.6 Risk – None arising from this report. 7.7 Climate Change – None arising from this report. 7.8 Fairer Scotland Duty - None arising from this report. 7.9 Equalities: Protected Characteristics - None arising from this report. 7.10 Consumer Duty - None arising from this report. 7.11 Island Communities - None arising from this report. 7.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing – None arising from this report. DOUGLAS HENDRY Monitoring Officer 6th November 2025 For further information contact: Graeme McMillan, Transformation Programme Manager, Graeme.mcmillan2@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES Appendix 1 – Decision of the Hearing Panel of the Standards Commission for Scotland, dated 14th October 2025 (Case Ref: LA/AB/4081)