**Councillor Suspended for Bullying to Chair School Violence Working Group**
A councillor who was suspended for bullying behaviour is set to chair a working group on violence and aggression in schools, despite facing opposition in his previous role as the convener of children and young people. In June 2023, Stirling North Labour councillor Danny Gibson was found to have violated the Councillor’s Code of Conduct by the Standards Commission. He was suspended for five months for bullying a senior official and displaying disrespect towards staff. Gibson later apologised, stating he would “reflect on my behaviour.”
During the hearing, it was revealed that Gibson had pressured officials, launched personal attacks on senior officers, and belittled staff during meetings in 2018 and 2019 while serving in a joint SNP/Labour administration. The Standards Commission for Scotland deemed his actions as having the potential to tarnish the council’s reputation, labelling his conduct as bullying. Despite this, Gibson, currently the convener of the children and young people committee in a minority Labour administration, was supported by committee members, including SNP councillors, to lead a working group focusing on violence and aggression in schools.
However, the opposition SNP group called a special council meeting in an attempt to replace Gibson as convener, with SNP leader Councillor Scott Farmer expressing disbelief at the prospect of a bully heading the group. Independent councillor Alasdair Macpherson echoed this sentiment, describing the situation as a “sick joke.” Concerns were raised about the perception of having a scrutiny on bullying chaired by an individual found guilty of bullying.
In response, SNP councillor Gerry McLaughlan acknowledged Gibson’s hard work and expressed hope that he had changed for the better. McLaughlan highlighted the importance of perception and suggested that another individual should assume the role. Council leader Margaret Brisley defended Gibson, stating that the matter had been addressed by the Standards Commission, and emphasised the need to respect their decisions. She accused the SNP of engaging in political manoeuvring and indicated that Gibson had served his punishment and proven himself as a dedicated councillor.
An amendment proposed by Councillor Brisley emphasising the role of the Standards Commission in determining outcomes and applying restrictions was supported by Labour and the Conservative group. The ongoing debate surrounding Gibson’s appointment reflects the differing perspectives within the council on how to handle instances of misconduct and the appropriate measures for addressing them.