Morrison hails Moray SNP group leadership role as ‘huge honour’ after stepping down
A local councillor has brought the curtain down on a history-making spell as the co-leader of Moray Council’s SNP group.
Fochabers-Lhanbryde councillor Shona Morrison stepped down from the post recently which she has held since first elected to the local authority some seven and a half years ago. She shared the role with then councillor, now Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey MP, Graham Leadbitter.
During that time she wrote a new chapter in the council’s history books by becoming the first woman to hold the post of civic leader.
She is also now the president of Cosla, which represents Scotland’s local authorities.
Assuming the mantle of co-leadership was the last thing on Councillor Morrison’s mind during the 2017 election campaign.
She said: “I was new to the council when I became co-leader.
“Graham and I had worked so well together during the campaign that Aaron McLean, who was councillor for Forres at the time, proposed a joint leadership for the SNP group. It was also nice to have a gender balance in the leadership team.
“After seven and a half years in the role I thought it was time to start thinking about who comes after me and giving someone else a go at it.
“I also want to focus on my ward work and my role as president of Cosla. With the co-leadership on top of this my plate was pretty full. It’s been very enjoyable but I have to be realistic.”
The role, especially while the SNP group formed the council administration, brought with it its share of major challenges, but also many memorable and enjoyable moments.
Councillor Morrison continued: “I was only one year into my first term as a councillor when we took over the council administration in 2018.
“This was really daunting but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I became the first female civic head of Moray Council, which was a huge honour, and hopefully will not be the last.
“Covid has to be the biggest challenge we all faced - the world changed overnight, pretty much.
“The response from everyone at the council was unbelievable. It was an amazing honour to be part of this; it was terrifying at times but a lot of really good stuff happened, it was awe-inspiring.
“Being civic head was an apolitical role and it was really enjoyable representing Moray at all kinds of different events. It also offered the opportunity to chair Full Council which was never plain sailing!
“That said, it was very interesting and and it was good to see the passion fellow councillors from across the political spectrum brought to standing up for their constituents’ interests, It’s something that’s very good for democracy.
“I had the opportunity to sit on the Moray Integration Joint Board [for health and social care] and NHS Grampian - as a former nurse, this was a huge honour for me.”
Councillor Morrison said she hoped her time as civic leader while co-leading the SNP administration will serve as something of a beacon for women and girls contemplating a career in politics.
She said: “It was a huge honour to be the first female civic leader of Moray Council.
“I’ve done a lot of work with Cosla looking at dealing with barriers to taking public office; it’s not always the easiest thing for women to contemplate, in fact, it can be really difficult.
“Hopefully by seeing women in these roles like civic leader it will show that while there are challenges there are also significant opportunities.
“In terms of Moray, we currently have Councillor Kathleen Robertson as the council leader, it’s good to see a woman in this kind of role.”
Politics in one shape or another, plus a strong sense of civic involvement, helped propel Councillor Morrison into the world of local democracy.
She explained I was brought up in a pretty political household, we were always having debates and discussions about policies.
“The 2014 independence referendum was really important, too.
“Before I was elected I enjoyed participating in the local community - I was the chair of the Milne’s Parent Council and was involved with the Fochabers Brownies and village hall.
“However, it was the campaign to save Milne’s High from closure a few years ago that was my first real experience of dealing closely with local democracy.”
Taking over the group leadership reins is Councillor Scott Lawrence, joined by Buckie councillor Sonya Warren as deputy leader.
