A Labour councillor on North Ayrshire Council has drawn criticism after joining a remote council meeting while driving, appearing on screen from behind the wheel of his moving car. Councillor Jim Montgomerie insisted he was "hands-free" after apparently wedging his mobile phone behind the steering wheel, but colleagues raised a formal point of order and asked him to leave the meeting until he had stopped driving. The episode matters because it raises questions about road safety and the standards expected of elected officials attending virtual meetings.

Footage from the meeting on 24 June shows Cllr Montgomerie navigating the road as council leader Tony Gurney interrupted proceedings, noting that remote attendance is permitted only if members can concentrate on the council's business. Provost Anthea Dickson said she did not want to be seen encouraging the behaviour, warning that using a mobile phone while driving could lead to police prosecution, and asked him to rejoin once he was stationary. Montgomerie remained unperturbed and repeated that he was "hands-free", while other councillors were seen laughing and shaking their heads.