Milton Keynes councillor resigns after being convicted of serious driving offences

A local councillor has resigned after it was revealed that he had been convicted of driving offences.

Scot Balazs was charged by police on 1st February and on May 18th, was convicted at Wycombe Magistrates Court for driving without insurance.

Balazs faced a fine of £660 and his driving with endorsed with six penalty points and court costs of £110 and a victim surcharge of £264.

On Thursday evening, Scot Balazs resigned from his position as Conservative Councillor for Newport Pagnell South after it had been revealed by a local journalist that he’d been convicted of a motoring offence.

In a statement from Scot Balazs, the 37-year-old said: “I apologise for any upset and concern my actions may have caused. I feel that the issue is of sufficient severity and has placed enormous stress upon myself and my family that the only honourable option for me is to resign with immediate effect from my role as a Milton Keynes City Councillor.

“I also do not wish to inflict any reputational damage upon the local Conservative Party for which I have worked tirelessly over many years and for the residents of the Newport Pagnell South ward for which I have always endeavoured to offer commitment and service of the highest order."

It has been reported that a local business, Bluebell Flowers on Newport Pagnell High Street, has been 'forced to close' due to the alleged damage to its vehicle during the crash.

A fundraiser has been launched for the store, stating that due to the their being no insurance 'Bluebell Flowers has been unable to get a replacement vehicle', forcing them to give up their local store and work from home.

The leader of the Conservative party yesterday released a statement, saying: "Whilst I am deeply sorry to see Cllr Balazs leave in this manner he felt, and I agreed, that this was the only course of action open to him and he has taken the honourable way forward by offering his resignation which I have accepted.

Cllr Hopkins continues: "The council has a duty of care to Scot and to his family and I shall be seeking advice from senior MK City Council officers in the ways in which this can best be undertaken over the days and weeks ahead."

Now, the Milton Keynes Labour Party is raising questions about what the Conservative Party knew, with the local Labour party believing that the issue may have been covered up with the aim of preventing a by-election in his Newport Pagnell seat. 

Mr Balazs represented Newport Pagnell South and won the seat in 2021, with his seat being due up for re-election in May 2024.  A by-election has now been called, due to the resignation.

The MK Labour party has issued a number of questions that they believe need to be answered by the MK Conservatives over how they have acted, and if the local Tories have sought to cover up the issue to prevent a by-election. 

MKFM has contacted the Conservative party and Ben Everitt MP to share questions that have been raised by the local Labour group and the Leader of Milton Keynes City Council to which the Conservative party has told MKFM they did not know about the convictions until this week.

Cllr Peter Marland, Leader of MK City Council said: “It is always disappointing to discover that any city councillor has resigned because their behaviour. This is a particularly serious case and Mr Balazs was right to do so. 

"However, I think there are clearly questions that need to be answered about the issue given the offence took place in February, he was convicted in May, and he has only just resigned now after the issue was discovered by a local journalist.” 

Chris Curtis, Labour spokesperson for MK North, said: “The MK Conservatives have questions to answer on this subject as it clearly has the potential to highlight a potential cover-up to avoid a tricky by-election for them in a marginal seat. It certainly has all the hallmarks of Tory sleaze. 

 "If any local Conservative knew about this issue or the conviction before today, why didn’t they act? If they knew about the issue before the Olney Raft Race on July 2, why were they happy to let him continue as a councillor and promote him on their social media channels? It puts the judgment of the entire MK Conservative Party into question, including almost all their senior councillors, the local MP, other candidates and their senior local campaigners. The MK public need answers. 

"It again shows why good local journalism is needed to hold those in the public eye to account. 

"I’m glad to see that a local fundraising page has been establish to help the local florts business he helped put out of business with his actions. The local Labour Party will be raising money to help the campaign.” 

Cllr Marland concluded: “Everyone makes mistakes. The key to moving on is to be sure that all the facts are known and there is total clarity. Any apology must be truthful and address all the issues. At the moment it clearly falls short. We need to remember a serious criminal offence has taken place and a local business has been impacted, they are the innocent victims here. There are still questions and gaps in what is known about this issue and I’m sure the local MK Conservatives will be keen to answer them.” 

Responding to Conservative Councillor Scot Balazs’ resignation, Deputy Leader of Milton Keynes City Council, Lib Dem Councillor Robin Bradburn, said: “We’re sorry to hear how local people have been affected by the shocking behaviour of Councillor Scot Balazs, and it’s heart-breaking that a much-loved local business has fallen onto hard times, and as a result has been forced to close due to damage to its vehicle during the crash.

"Mr Balazs’ actions are very serious and for the Conservative Party to have known since 18 May and to carry on as if nothing has happened is sickening.

“The people of Newport Pagnell have been taken for granted not only by Mr Balazs but the Conservative Party, it's time for change and it's time the residents get the answers they deserve."