A north-east councillor at the centre of the “Legogate” scandal has formally stepped down from politics citing “personal abuse” directed towards him and his family.
Martin Kitts-Hayes said being an elected official is now “no longer worth the effort” as he announced his resignation as an Inverurie and District councillor.
The Progressive Independent Group member announced he was stepping down as council co-leader on Monday night amid mounting pressure from opposition members and colleagues.
It came after he walked out of an international conference in Denmark because he was booked to stay in a Wild West chalet at the Legoland tourist attraction.
He had been due to attend the North Sea Commission as a representative of Aberdeenshire Council, but branded the accommodation a “glorified shed”.
Mr Kitts-Hayes demanded local authority staff find him somewhere else to stay – or book him a flight home.
He later tried to cover up the fact he returned early from the conference, leaving council tax payers with a £3,000 bill.
Announcing his resignation, Mr Kitts-Hayes said: “I wish to announce that I have decided to stand down as a Councillor with immediate effect and have informed the provost and chief executive.
“Recent events have placed an intolerable strain on my family with personal abuse continuing unabated even after I resigned as co-leader of the council on Monday. Being a councillor is just not worth the effort.”