A video has surfaced of the provost of Angus allegedly bullying a councillor during a public meeting. Brian Boyd, who also stands as an independent, interrupts independent councillor Lois Speed as she is preparing to ask a question at last month’s council meeting. The footage, shared publicly, then shows Boyd reading out the council’s policy on standing orders before asking a shaken Speed: “Have I made myself clear?” Scottish Conservatives councillor Craig Fotheringham called Boyd “an absolute disgrace” during the meeting, adding he was a “verbal bully” and that he “doesn’t handle the meetings well at all”. Disgust and shock reportedly filled the meeting room at the time. Boyd later apologised to Speed, stating that he was a “dramatic person at the best of times”.
Speed, who is a councillor for Arbroath East and Lunan, declined to comment when approached by BBC Scotland News following the incident, which occurred on 20 June. Both Boyd and Angus Council have been approached for comment, whilst the clips of the incident continue to circulate on social media. Speed had already seen a proposed emergency motion rejected prior to Boyd’s outburst and later referred to “key themes today in terms of local democracy” as she prepared to ask a question and was interrupted by Boyd.
With pressure mounting on Boyd, highlighted by Fotheringham’s condemnation, and the deeply concerning behaviour towards Speed being widely publicised, it remains to be seen how Boyd and Angus Council will respond long term
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