Labour loses stronghold as politician quits for pension

Labour has lost control in one of its “last strongholds” in Scotland’s town halls after the sudden resignation of a senior councillor just a month before the elections.

Alex Bennett last night defended his decision to quit as a Midlothian councillor in order access his pension after turning 65 in January.

He still plans to stand again as a Labour councillor in next month’s election, prompting opposition claims of treating voters with “contempt.”

The party now has just eight councillors, while the combined opposition has a total of nine seats. Labour lost its majority in Midlothian last month when veteran Jackie Aitchison stepped down after being de-selected, but clung to power on the casting vote of Provost Adam Montgomery.

Mr Bennett said that when he became a councillor five years ago, he transferred his existing pension funds into an “umbrella” scheme with the local authority and was told this would mature when he turned 65.

But he added: “When I phoned up in November I was told I couldn’t get it because I was still technically an employee. I told them I was an elected member, but they said under the rules of the council you’re an employee.

“I appealed it, but there was no way round it. I had to resign from the job to get my pension.”

He is standing as a councillor and would receive the normal salary if re-elected.

“What I won’t be doing is paying into the pension – I’ve paid into the pensions for 50 years and now’s the time to spend money,” he said.

Colin Beattie, the Nationalist MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, and an outgoing Midlothian councillor, last night voiced concerns.

“The questions the Labour administration in Midlothian must answer are did they know Councillor Bennett was going to resign in this fashion and remain a candidate for the next council?” he said

“If so, it says a lot about the Labour party’s contempt for the electorate that they are prepared to lose another councillor from the administration rather than think about what is best for Midlothian.”

It’s the latest blow for Labour in an area reeling from last week’s decision by transport giant First to axe 200 staff and a range of bus services across the region.

But Labour’s council leader Derek Milligan remains defiant, insisting that the party has built 15 new schools in one of Scotland’s smallest council areas and a raft of new council houses.

He insisted that former leader Iain Gray’s decision to flee protesters during last year’s Holyrood campaign will not be an example he intends to follow.

“If councils have been listening to their residents and constituents then I think they have nothing to fear,” Mr Milligan said.

“You’re certainly not going to be finding me running away from any campaign group – I’ve taken the right decisions with the right information in front of me.”

But SNP group leader Owen Thompson added: “It’s always seen as the last Labour stronghold, but we’re fielding 12 candidates and they’re only fielding 11, so we’re setting out our stall to be the largest group.”