David Brown taxi licence row: Highland Council voting records show gender split

An independent external review of Highland Council's licensing committee has been agreed following the fallout from the David Brown case. The review will examine the committee's culture, governance and accountability, and will engage with experts in public protection, safeguarding, and violence against women and girls. The new licensing committee has four new members, three of whom are female, according to BBC Scotland.

The decision in June to allow Brown, a convicted rapist, to retain his taxi operator's licences sparked widespread criticism. All four female councillors voted to revoke the licences, while all six male councillors voted against. A no-confidence motion against five councillors who had voted against action was lost by 45 votes to six, with five abstentions, and did not force them to resign.

BBC Scotland analysis of voting records since 2022 found the Brown case was not isolated. The committee considered licences involving information from Police Scotland on 77 occasions, with 29 contested decisions resulting in a formal vote. On 22 occasions, the female councillors all voted together for the more punitive action, and in 12 of those cases they were outvoted by male colleagues.

Female councillors suggested unconscious bias may play a role and said the strict fit and proper person test was not always applied. Councillor Lyndsey Johnston raised concerns about poor attendance at optional training on violence against women and girls, while Kate MacLean noted that those who need it most often do not attend. Male councillors denied being misogynistic and said their decisions were not determined solely by gender.

Councillor John Grafton said the men had never come together as a group to agree a decision. He said they voted on Brown's licence out of compassion for his wife and family, conceding this was not the relevant legal issue. He was expelled from the Scottish Liberal Democrats. Councillor Chris Birt, who was suspended from the SNP, said he never claimed Brown was fit and proper, arguing the licence would expire before Brown could be eligible for parole.

Johnston stressed that the review does not suggest women make better decisions than men, but that people experience risk differently. She said the four female councillors want change that will keep the public safe. Grafton welcomed the review if it is truly independent. Several councillors have resigned or been expelled, and Willie MacKay had already quit as a councillor in the aftermath of the Brown vote.