Tory council chief in contracts probe

A COUNCIL leader has been reported to police after he was recorded appearing to promise to help “pals” win multi-million-pound demolition contracts.

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In a tape passed to the Sunday Mail, South Ayrshire’s Tory leader Martin Dowey calls officers at his local authority “f***ing useless”. He also boasts: “All the top ones I can sack.”

And he appears to tell the businessman he can help him win work, including a deal to demolish a fire-ravaged hotel.

Dowey has denied doing anything wrong and claims he informed police of the meeting himself in 2023.

Police have confirmed they have received correspondence in relation to the meeting which is “currently being assessed”.

In the recording of the meeting at the council's offices in 2023 Dowey - a former police officer - said: “You will be told the quotes are coming out. You put in your price, we will give you a guess-timate of what's happening.