THE leader of Argyll and Bute Council’s largest opposition group has stood down after less than 18 months in the role.
Councillor Gary Mulvaney (Conservative, Helensburgh Central) announced his decision at the end of a full council meeting on Wednesday, September 24.
He has been a councillor continuously since 2003, and will continue to serve as a councillor, although he will no longer be leader of the Argyll, Lomond and Islands Group (TALIG) or the council’s Conservative group.
A report to the same full council meeting showed that three councillors were no longer part of the TALIG group.
Councillor Garret Corner (Mid Argyll) is now listed as an Independent Conservative and Unionist, and Councillor Yvonne McNeilly (Cowal) as a Conservative and Unionist, away from TALIG.
Councillor Liz McCabe (Independent, Isle of Bute) is also no longer in TALIG, according to the report.
Councillor Mulvaney, who was previously a deputy leader of the council, became opposition leader in April 2024 after a power grab by the council’s current administration.
He was invited to make a speech at the end of the meeting by the council’s provost, Councillor Douglas Philand (Independent, Mid Argyll).
He said: “I am standing down as leader of the largest opposition group and as Conservative group leader. I am remaining as a councillor and this will be effective from the end of this month.
“I have probably been leader of the Conservative group for longer than I care to remember. It started with three people, got a bit bigger and in recent weeks got a bit smaller.
“When I said to somebody I was going to stand down, they said I was a bit of a fixture in the council chamber.
“My thanks to all officers for all their support, advice and guidance in the error of my ways when that has been made.”
He added: “To the leader of the council [Councillor Jim Lynch, SNP, Oban South and the Isles], thank you for a very good working relationship.
“We probably agree on more than we disagree, and across the chamber, we agree on most things, and most things are not political.
“To my current group, we are a pretty good team. To the new leader, I have only two words, and they are not what you think, they are ‘good luck’.”
Councillor Mulvaney is also due to contest the Dumbarton constituency for the Conservatives at the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.
Incumbent MSP Jackie Baillie (Labour) is the only other confirmed candidate to date for that poll after the withdrawal of Councillor Math Campbell-Sturgess (SNP, Helensburgh and Lomond South).
