Conservative group leader on Highland Council to step down
The leader of Highland Council's Conservative group has announced she is to step down from the role.
Councillor Helen Crawford, who took on the role almost 18 months ago, will continue as councillor for Aird and Loch Ness.
The process will now start to find a new leader for the nine Conservative councillors.
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Cllr Crawford was appointed joint leader of the Conservative group alongside Struan Mackie, councillor for Thurso and Northwest Caithness, after becoming a newly-elected councillor in May 2022. He stepped back from the leader's role in November.
Cllr Crawford said for now, she needed to prioritise issues in her own ward, especially given the state of Beauly Primary School and Charleston Academy.
"It has been an honour to represent the group as leader, to lead a U-turn on what our Highland private nurseries are paid, to speak on the many issues of the day and to strengthen our presence in the chamber," she said.
"It is absolutely my wish to see this group continue to be strong and to continue to command respect across the chamber."
Tribute has been paid to Cllr Crawford by fellow Conservatives including Cllr Isabelle Mackenzie, of Millburn ward, who noted the news with sadness.
"Helen has been very proactive and hard working over the last year, for example bringing the voices of the private nursery groups to be heard and represented in the council chamber," Cllr Mackenzie said.
"It has been a pleasure to work alongside Helen. We have had an amazing year developing new roots within our Highland Scottish Conservative and Unionist (SCU) group across the chamber.
"The public do not always know what goes on behind the scenes with the daily lives of councillors.
"We do have other commitments. We have to juggle a variety of public and private issues.
"Helen has been amazing and worked so hard for the SCU group. I fully support her, and it will not have been an easy decision to step back.
"It was meant to be a joint role and then becoming almost full time understandably has its consequences. The life of a Highland councillor can be bitter-sweet."
Mary Scanlon, chairman of the Highland Conservative and Unionist Association, was also saddened.
"Helen has highlighted the rates of literacy and numeracy in Highland schools which are ranked the worst in Scotland and worked to seek solutions and support for Highland school pupils," she said.
"Her work and commitment to early years nursery education has resulted in more,much needed, resources being given to the sector.
"Helen’s work on the Council has gained her, and the Scottish Conservative group, respect across the chamber and this will continue as we look towards a new leader."
