Leading Moray councillor George Alexander from Forres to step down
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A former leader of Moray Council has publicly announced he will soon be stepping down after a decade with the local authority.
George Alexander has served as an independent member for Forres for the past 10 years.
He is currently the head of the councillors open group, which consists of three other independent councillors.
In addition, he was also the leader of Moray Council between 2017 and 2018, when he and five other independents formed an administration alongside the Conservatives.
As he prepares for life after local politics, Mr Alexander has given his opinion on working with both the Conservatives and the current SNP leadership.
He said: "Some of the Tories thought they were going to solve Moray Council’s problems by sacking some of the lead officers and re-advertising their jobs, but that would have resulted in huge claims against us.
"There was a massive misunderstanding on how the council works.
"In the last five years they have done more damage in their working relationship with officers than I’ve ever seen before.
"But of course we get the council we vote for, that’s how democracy works."
While relationships were strained with some members at times, Mr Alexander praised the Conservative group's leader Tim Eagle.
He said: "I have a lot of respect for him. If he stood down I think it would be a loss to the council."
Mr Alexander has criticised the Scottish Government for reducing funding given local authorities in real terms over the years, but he gave credit to the minority SNP administration currently in charge of the council.
He said: "I’ll give the SNP their due, they took on a hell of a challenge.
"I’ve found they have been much more responsible since they took over the administration, and are making the best of a very difficult job.”
Mr Alexander praised his fellow members of the open group Lorna Creswell, John Cowe and Gordon Cowie for their commitment and teamwork.
He said: "As a group we have done our best to be collegiate and work for the best for the people of Moray.
"It’s an honour and a privileged to serve your community as a councillor. I know a lot folk say that, but I believe it’s true.
"I was elected because of what folk know about me. I didn’t stand for a political party I stood as an independent.
"I delivered leaflets myself round the rural parts of the ward, and the reaction I got was ‘I’ll vote for you because I’ve never had anybody at my door before'."
Mr Alexander will step down ahead of the local government elections on May 5.
