Council convener 'fighting on' despite ban over unpaid tax

The convener of Shetland Islands Council has said she hopes to "fight on" and "clear her name" after being banned as a company director last month over unpaid tax.

It has prompted a call for Andrea Manson to resign from her ceremonial role.

Her jointly-owned pub company, Mid Brae Inn Limited, owed HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) at least £178,860 when it went into liquidation in May 2023.

Manson said she had been "complacent" but insisted the business had been a casualty of the Covid pandemic. She said the company had offered to pay "a significant amount" of the money it owed.

Speaking to BBC Radio Shetland, Manson said she had planned to resign as convener but received "overwhelming" messages of support.

In February, the Insolvency Service, a UK government agency, said her firm paid £6,000 to HMRC between 2019 and 2023, despite continuing to trade and more than £800,000 having been paid into its bank account.

The 67-year-old said she was one of "many thousands of people" who had fallen on hard times.

"I put too much trust in the fact that I was told everything was ticking along nicely. I should have checked", she said.

On Tuesday, Shetland Central councillor Ian Scott called for her resignation.

He said the controversy had significantly dented the reputation of the local authority.

Manson's position as council convener means she acts as the civic head and figurehead of the local authority, presiding over full council meetings and representing the area at ceremonial events.

In May 2023, Mid Brae Inn Limited owed HMRC £110,675 in VAT and surcharges and £59,227 in unpaid PAYE and National Insurance contributions dating back to 2018-19.

The Insolvency Service's chief investigator Neil North said Manson had failed to ensure her company met its tax obligations.

Manson said she wanted an opportunity to speak to councillors and tell her side of the story.

She insisted she had the support of "quite a few" of her colleagues.