DUNFERMLINE South SNP councillor Fay Sinclair “remains committed” to representing her constituents following criticism that she had not publicly announced she has moved to Galashiels.

She has also confirmed she has stopped working for MP Neale Hanvey following his move to Alex Salmond’s new Alba Party.

Cllr Sinclair was employed part-time as a parliamentary assistant in his Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency from February 2020.

The ‘Notice of Registrable Interests’ for Fife Council states that her dwelling place is now in the Borders town – she had previously lived in her Dunfermline South ward.

A member of the public, who asked not to be named, had complained: “Fay Sinclair’s register of interests lists her owning a house in Galashiels where I am told she has moved, while continuing to sit as a Dunfermline councillor.

“It’s 50-plus miles away and takes 75 minutes to get to her constituency.

“There is nothing legally to stop Cllr Sinclair living in Galashiels or Timbuktu so long as she doesn’t live outside Fife while standing for election.

“It does mean she can’t stand for re-election to Fife Council next May unless she moves back here before this May. Because she doesn’t live in Fife, she can’t vote in elections here even as she continues to be a councillor.

“This is an unsatisfactory situation and not something many of her constituents will be happy about.

“They might well feel they elected her on a false prospectus and that they’ve been let down in terms of representation by this loophole.”

Cllr Sinclair’s move to Galashiels follows her step down from her role as convener of Fife Council’s education and children’s services committee in November. She said the decision had been made for health reasons.

Speaking about leaving her employment and her residency in the Borders, she said: “Following Neale’s decision to join the Alba Party I have resigned as his parliamentary assistant. I remain committed to representing my constituents as SNP councillor for Dunfermline South and continue to attend council and community meetings in that capacity. I’m not going to comment any further.”

A spokesperson for Mr Hanvey confirmed: “Fay no longer works for Neale.

“Given Neale’s move to the Alba Party, Fay wasn’t able to continue in her position as his parliamentary researcher.”

Mr Hanvey announced he had defected from the SNP at the end of March, citing his main aspiration was achieving independence for Scotland.

In February, he lost his role as SNP vaccine spokesperson – just a few weeks after he was given the position – after posting a message on a crowdfunder page raising money to bring a defamation action against Aberdeen North MP Kirsty Blackman and others.

He was also suspended by the SNP in November 2019 for posting anti-Semitic language on social media, which led to a six month suspension.