Remember me
Gerry Convery, who represents East Kilbride Central South in South Lanarkshire, was found to have breached the Councillors’ Code of Conduct during a call with a housing officer on August 18, 2025.
The Standards Commission for Scotland ruled that Convery’s conduct during the call was “discourteous and disrespectful".
However, the panel found his behaviour did not meet the threshold for bullying.
READ MORE: Scottish bus operator posts £1.1m profit in first year under public ownership
The phone call, which lasted between five and 10 minutes, related to a housing issue raised by one of Convery’s constituents.
The housing officer told the hearing that Convery repeatedly interrupted her, spoke over her, and used a “raised and aggressive” tone.
She said she asked him three times not to speak to her in that manner, and after the call, she became tearful and left the office to compose herself.
In addition, the officer told the hearing that the incident caused her anxiety and led to apprehension whenever the phone rang in the office.
She later took sickness absence and was prescribed medication for anxiety.
A colleague said she could hear Convery’s raised voice during the call and saw the officer crying afterwards.
The councillor denied shouting, bullying, or harassing the officer but admitted he had spoken “robustly”.
He also said he had a naturally loud voice and was seeking information about waste at the property on behalf of a constituent.
The panel found, on the balance of probabilities, that Convery spoke in a raised voice for much of the conversation, that the officer asked him more than once not to speak to her in that manner, and that he repeatedly asked the same question.
It concluded that his “tone, manner and approach” were discourteous and disrespectful, noting an “inherent power imbalance” between Convery, as an experienced councillor and deputy leader, and the housing officer.
When deciding on the penalty, the panel said the incident represented a “significant departure” from the standards expected of an experienced elected member and described his conduct as “reasonably serious.”
It also noted that Convery had not demonstrated “any insight, understanding or remorse” into how his conduct could be perceived and the impact it had on others.
The depute leader has been suspended from all meetings of the council, including its committees, subcommittees and other bodies on which he represents the council, for one month from November 5.
A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Council said: “We note the outcome of the hearing of the Panel of the Standards Commission for Scotland.”
Convery has the right to appeal the decision.
Comments (0)