The leader of the Scottish Conservative group on Perth and Kinross Council has described the situation facing a councillor fined in court for election fraud as “very unfortunate”.
Councillor Mac Roberts told The Courier he feels Councillor Alan Jack did not know all the “rules and regulations” regarding the allocated budget for his 2012 election campaign.
Jack, 74, of The Stables, Bridge of Earn, was fined £450 at Perth Sheriff Court last week after he admitted incurring election expenses exceeding the maximum limit between March 22 and May 26 last year.
The court heard he surpassed his allocated budget by £850.64. Jack’s political future is now in doubt and this will be clarified when he meets council chief executive Bernadette Malone.
A council spokesperson said it was “inappropriate” for the local authority to comment on the matter. Jack told The Courier he did not wish to comment.
However, Mr Roberts said the situation was “very unfortunate” and added: “I feel he has fallen by the wayside through not knowing about the rules and regulations.”
Jack, who had stood as an Independent candidate, failed to comply with guidelines set out by the Electoral Commission. This involved a limit on spending, with the total allotted to Ward 9, which Jack won, being £1,215.36.