Lloyd Melville, a Scottish National Party (SNP) councillor in Angus and a candidate for the upcoming Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) elections, is facing scrutiny following complaints about his treatment of women during his time as president of the Stirling University Scottish Nationalist Association (SUSNA) in 2019. The complaints, reported by the Sunday Mail, highlight allegations that Melville's behaviour included derogatory remarks and inappropriate jokes directed at female members of the organisation.

According to testimonies from several former members of SUSNA, Melville reportedly referred to women in the group as “lazy cows” when they did not attend meetings, while making light of the group’s gender representation by proclaiming that they had met their “gender quota” once women were present. One former member recounted that Melville's comments were deemed inappropriate, stating, “When we came to events or meetings, he would say that he’d met the ‘gender quota’ and things as if it was a joke.” She emphasised that Melville's advocacy for equality seemed insincere, as his actions often involved positioning women at the forefront of photographs rather than providing them genuine opportunities.

Another former member echoed similar sentiments, revealing that Melville would single out women at meetings. She noted, “Lloyd kept singling women out at meetings and joking that we were meeting our ‘feminist quota’ but then around male members he said women members were ‘lazy cows’.” Concerns were raised regarding his physical interactions, with claims that he would move women to the front for photographs, which they found unsettling.

In response to the allegations, Melville was offered equalities training following these complaints. He later stated, “I attended a meeting to discuss the complaint where it was decided unanimously there was no action to be taken. As anyone who knows me will attest to, I am a strong supporter of gender equality in politics and all walks of life.” A source close to him has labelled the allegations as “vexatious” and “politically motivated.”

Since becoming a councillor in 2022, Melville has worked as a caseworker for current Angus South MSP Graeme Dey and previously for SNP MP Dave Doogan until December 2023. He is now vying for a seat in the Holyrood elections, aiming to replace Dey, who is among a notable number of SNP MSPs, 27 in total, that have announced their intention to leave the parliament. This includes high-profile departures such as former First Minister Humza Yousaf and Finance Secretary Shona Robison, raising concerns within party ranks regarding the potential lack of experience in the next cohort of parliamentarians.

Source: Noah Wire Services