A SCOTTISH councillor who sparked anger when he branded an LGBT+ event "controversial" is being investigated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner, The National has been told.
South Kintyre councillor Tommy Macpherson, a former Conservative, caused a stir this week when he highlighted on a public community Facebook group his frustration with the route for the first Kintyre Pride Parade, which is set to take place on Saturday.
In capital letters, he titled the post “Controversial parade to start 100 yards from popular Campbeltown Playpark” which subsequently attracted hundreds of angry comments.
Complaints have apparently been sent to the ESC about the post.
While the ESC has said it cannot comment on any complaints or allegations regarding the specific post, it has confirmed Macpherson is subject to an ongoing investigation.
The ESC investigates complaints about councillors and MSPs regarding their conduct and if necessary submits reports to the Standards Commission to take further action.
Previously, the body says it has received two other complaints about Macpherson but these were both closed at the first stage of investigation as there was "insufficient or no evidence" of a breach of the code of conduct.
Macpherson's description of the Kintyre Pride Parade sparked anger within the group as scores of residents questioned why he had labelled it “controversial”, while others suggested he insinuated there was an issue with the assembly point being close to a playpark.
The councillor said sorry 48 hours after his post for the “ill-thought-out title” adding that he does not hold “any contempt” towards the LGBT+ movement.
However, in a separate comment to The National he said he "did not support" the LGBT+ movement and does not subscribe to the "non-binary gender identity-obsession presently sweeping British society".
He maintained there had been very little community awareness of the march or “meaningful engagement locally”. He said he used the word “controversial” in relation to “requests for representation on behalf of numerous Kintyre constituents”.
Organisers have, however, put out a statement suggesting they are not happy with his apology, insisting he has insinuated the LGBT+ community is a “danger” to children.
Kintyre Pride said on the Facebook group: “We acknowledge that Cllr Tommy MacPherson has publicly apologised through another post on The Wee Toon Community Noticeboard but are concerned when he states that he believes people’s sexuality and gender identity should be respected and protected but his actions say different.
“The apology post does not clear up any hurt or discomfort caused by associating the proximity of the play park and start of the parade. The clear insinuation here being that members of the LGBT+ community are a danger to children using the play park."
Macpherson also caused a number of complaints to be sent to Argyll and Bute Council last year after he posted Islam has “at its core a fanatical hatred of Jews and Western society” on social media.
He used his council Facebook page in December 2023 to post: “It is my belief Islam has at its core a fanatical hatred of Jews and Western society and we are, through our weak, woke, political correctness, which is absolute blind stupidity on our part, willingly importing it.
“That is my opinion, my belief, neither ignorant nor naive. I consider myself a patriot, proud of our national and cultural identity; fairness, orderliness, inclusiveness and respect for social norms. There is no shame."
In December 2022, Macpherson quit the ruling council administration over "misgivings" about governance, saying his party group had put him "on the naughty step"
The following day the Conservatives’ group leader on the council, Gary Mulvaney, announced that MacPherson had been suspended by the party and would sit as an independent councillor.
The ESC said: "We are unable to comment at this time on any complaints or allegations regarding Councillor Tommy Macpherson's latest post on the LGBT march.
"We are however able to confirm that we currently have an ongoing investigation against Councillor Macpherson. We cannot give any further details on the matter at this stage."
