A TORY councillor has been suspended from the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party after appearing in court on child pornography charges.
Councillor Michael Jamieson, who was elected to Perth and Kinross Council in May, appeared from custody for a private hearing at Perth Sheriff Court.
It is alleged that he possessed indecent images of children at his home in Perth between November 2015 and March 2016.
Jamieson, 69, made no plea or declaration during the ten-minute hearing and the case was continued for further examination.
The councillor was bailed to appear in court later but special conditions were attached to the bail restricting his access to the internet.
Attending court while Jamieson charged was his partner. They have three grown up children.
Jamieson is one of the councillors in the Perth City South ward and was one of 17 Tories elected to the council in May.
They formed a ‘working partnership’ with the LibDems to run the council, and Jamieson was appointed to several committees including the Lifelong Learning, Housing and Communities and Licensing Committees and the Licensing Board.
Jamieson, a professional musician and music teacher, is a prominent member of the Perth St Johns Rotary Club and has been a past president of the organisation.
He is known locally for his work for Perth Youth Orchestra and is the secretary of the Perform in Perth music festival.
Jamieson is a member of the board of trustees of the British and International Federation of Festivals.
Its website says he “has compèred their Perth Christmas Concert for the past fourteen years.”
The Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party headquarters confirmed to The National last night that Cllr Jamieson had been suspended from the party as soon as it became aware of the matter.
His profile page on the website of the Perth and Kinross Conservatives was deleted yesterday, as was his profile picture showing him with Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson.
It is likely that Cllr Jamieson will face pressure to stand aside from his council duties while the case against him is ongoing.
A spokesman for Perth and Kinross Council said they could not discuss any criminal proceedings while the case was still active.
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