Calls for MK Conservative Group Deputy Leader to resign following criminal conviction

Milton Keynes Labour Group is calling for the immediate resignation of senior Conservative councillor and Deputy Group Leader, Peter Geary, after his guilty plea in for a criminal environmental offence which resulted in 15 healthy bullocks needing to be shot.

Cllr Peter Geary pleaded guilty to criminal offences relating to agricultural and livestock management rules and has been ordered to pay fines and costs totalling over £5,400. Two other charges were dropped and did not proceed after the guilty plea.

Cattle identification regulations and mandatory tagging are legal requirements designed to trace livestock, ensure food safety, prevent serious disease outbreaks, and protect animal welfare. Failing to identify and register livestock undermines vital agricultural safeguards and tracking systems.

Milton Keynes City Council holds statutory responsibility for enforcing regulatory compliance across the borough, including agricultural standards and local licensing governance. As a senior elected member and Deputy Conservative Leader, Cllr Geary holds a key public role in an authority tasked with enforcing the very regulations he breached.

In January this year Cllr Shazna Muzammil, Leader of the MK Conservative Group stated that “Standards in public life only matter if they are upheld consistently. Councillors are expected to meet high standards of behaviour, language and conduct at all times. Being an elected representative is a position of trust, responsibility and accountability to residents. If Councillors cannot uphold high standards in public life, then they should not be elected councillors”

Yet in February, the Conservative Group Leader put on record that she had ‘full, unequivocal, and absolute confidence’ in her Deputy Leader, despite having knowledge of the impending court case and serious nature of the charges. The local Conservatives also appointed Cllr Geary as their election agent, a role which makes him responsible for ensuring their party complied with electoral law, and re-elected Cllr Geary to be their Deputy Leader after the elections in May, raising serious questions over Cllr Shazna Muzammil’s judgement.

A Labour spokesperson said:

"Peter Geary is now a convicted criminal and he must resign his seat. His conviction of a criminal offence while sitting as a local councillor is totally incompatible with continuing to be an elected representative.

“Furthermore, Peter Geary has tried to wriggle his way out of any consequences by insinuating this conviction was politically motivated. This is not only ridiculous, but also incredibly disingenuous and irresponsible - Cllr Geary was pursued by the relevant enforcement team for breaking the law just like any other resident in MK would be. He is not exempt from the law just because he has ‘Councillor’ in front of his name. Cattle identification rules exist for critical reasons, to protect the safety of the public and ensure our food security. Ignoring the requirements is a serious matter, which has resulted in the death of 15 healthy bullocks - this is not simply an administration error that can be brushed under the carpet.

“What we are talking about here is a serious criminal conviction of a sitting councillor. His continued presence on the council is clearly concerning for the officers who were forced to take action against him because of his criminal behaviour, and for the residents he is supposed to represent. It is simply untenable that he could continue to hold a position of local power.

“There are also serious questions for Cllr Muzammil. She gave Cllr Geary her full and total backing even after the charges came to light. Either she does not take these criminal matters seriously or does not care, and she should therefore consider her position carefully too. If she does not change her stance on this matter then we call on the other members of the Milton Keynes Conservative Group to act and replace their discredited local leadership with those who can be trusted in the roles.”