An audio recording has emerged in which Martin Dowey, Conservative leader of South Ayrshire Council, appears to promise lucrative demolition contracts to acquaintances, raising concerns over contract transparency and governance. Both police and the council are currently investigating the matter.
Martin Dowey, the Conservative leader of South Ayrshire Council, has been recorded in a meeting apparently promising to facilitate multi-million pound demolition contracts to acquaintances, according to an audio recording obtained by the Sunday Mail. The recording has sparked questions regarding his conduct and the awarding of council contracts.
In the tape from a 2023 meeting held at the council offices, Dowey reportedly described some senior council officers as “f*g useless” and boasted of his ability to sack them, stating, “All the top ones I can sack.” He seemed to suggest he could influence contract awards, telling a businessman interested in council contracts: “You will be told the quotes are coming out. You put in your price, we will give you a guestimate of what is happening…” He went on to say that if the business was among the final three bids, the council would decide which to pick, implying potential flexibility in the choice among those bidders.
The discussion included a contract to demolish Ayr’s Station Hotel, which was damaged by fire and slated for demolition. When the businessman queried whether the contract was assured to them, Dowey replied: “Nobody else can do it… you put your bid in as normal and you will get the contract.” Dowey also spoke about a council housing project, revealing a tentative budget of £12.6 million for flats and emphasising the need for competitive pricing. During this part of the meeting, he explained that council officers had been “hammered” and were cautious about decisions, adding, “Half of this is my problem because I’m f*g shouting and bawling and telling them they are f***g useless and all that…”
Dowey, aged 56 and formerly a police officer for 25 years in Ayrshire, is also married to Sharon Dowey, a Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament, and was a parliamentary candidate in the Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock constituency during last year’s general election.
In response to the allegations, Martin Dowey denied any wrongdoing. Speaking to the Daily Record, he said: “I’m a former police officer. I know the law and I respect it at all times. I reported the approach from this individual to the police and the local authority myself long ago because I suspected something was not right with their approach. I did not help this company to win any contract. They have not received any money from South Ayrshire Council.”
Police Scotland confirmed receipt of correspondence relating to the meeting, stating it is “currently being assessed.” A spokesperson for South Ayrshire Council noted: “We note that this matter is with Police Scotland, and it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.”
The recording and subsequent investigations have raised questions about the transparency and governance of contract awards within South Ayrshire Council. The situation is under active review by the authorities.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/councillor-martin-dowey – This URL confirms Martin Dowey’s role as the Leader of South Ayrshire Council and his affiliation with the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
- https://south-ayrshire.gov.uk/media/13707/SAC-Meeting-papers-12-December-2024/pdf/SAC121224_combined_file_PUBLIC.pdf – This document provides context about council meetings and proceedings, though it does not specifically address the allegations against Martin Dowey.
- https://south-ayrshire.gov.uk/media/13582/CABINET-CF/pdf/CABINET_261124_PUBLIC_COMBINED_FILE.pdf – This URL references a cabinet meeting involving Councillor Martin Dowey, indicating his active involvement in council affairs.
- https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/foi-eir-release/2025/04/foi-202500453716/documents/eir-202500453716—information-released—annex-a-and-b/eir-202500453716—information-released—annex-a-and-b.pdf – This Scottish Government document mentions Councillor Martin Dowey, though it does not pertain to the specific allegations.
- https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/scotland/scottish-politics/martin-dowey-south-ayrshire-council-contracts-29370466 – Unfortunately, this specific URL was not found in the search results. However, Martin Dowey’s response to the allegations, as reported by the Daily Record, would corroborate his denial of wrongdoing.
- https://www.policescotland.uk/ – While this is the general Police Scotland website, it would be where updates on investigations involving Martin Dowey and South Ayrshire Council might be referenced.
- https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/tory-council-chief-recorded-appearing-35125423 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative references events from 2023 and involves current figures like Martin Dowey and Sharon Dowey. It appears to be a recent development as it is under active review by the authorities.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Direct quotes are attributed to Martin Dowey, but without specific external sources confirming them, it’s challenging to verify their original provenance. They could be original or reported previously.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Daily Record, which is a known publication but not as highly regarded globally as major outlets like the BBC or Financial Times.
Plausability check
Score:
6
Notes:
The claims are plausible given the context of council contracts and political figures. However, the lack of concrete evidence supporting or refuting the accusations makes it difficult to fully assess their validity.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
While the narrative appears relatively fresh and involves plausible claims, the plausibility and source reliability are somewhat compromised due to the lack of concrete evidence and the source not being among the most renowned globally.
