Priest caught driving throughout digital council assembly on approach to conduct funeral
A councillor who is also a priest was spotted driving during a virtual council meeting – on his way to conduct a funeral.
Father Malcolm Lane – a Conservative member of Monmouthshire County Council – was seen behind the wheel as he introduced himself to the meet. The Public Services Scrutiny Committee on Monday October 14 was held to discuss dental services.
Committee chairman Labour councillor Armand Watts asked him if he was driving.
READ MORE: Brit influencer, 26, fell to death on 630ft Spanish bridge – despite family pleas not to climb
Click for more of the latest news from across the world from the Daily Star.
Cllr Lane, who could be seen inside his car behind the wheel with his phone camera looking up, confirmed he was heading to a funeral.
(Image: No credit)
Cllr Watts, who was in the council chamber in Usk, asked him: “Malcolm, I’ve just got an observation here, are you driving?”
Cllr Lane then replied: “Yeah, I’m driving. I’m actually off to conduct a funeral but I’m listening intently.”
Cllr Watts responded saying: “Hmm, wait a minute, one second” – before consulting, off microphone, with the committee clerk.
He then said: “Malcolm, my advice to you because I’m not sure where you are, obviously you’ve got important business this morning, would be to possibly pull over if you can. Just turn your camera off maybe.”
Cllr Lane replied: “Yeah I will” – after being advised to pull over.
In the video uploaded to Monmouthshire City Council’s YouTube, it is not possible to understand whether Cllr Lane stayed following the meeting or pulled over as advised.
Cllr Lane was elected to the local authority in 2017.
He is also a member of Llantilio Pertholey Community Council and a governor of the Abergavenny Educational Foundation of King Henry VIII.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.
