Dear All
It seems that the Labour Council of shame may have a serious problem.
SNP MP John Mason has called on Strathclyde Police to start an investigation into the allegations of individuals and organisations improperly benefited from contracts awarded by council construction quango, City Building.
So, given the prominent role that the Glasgow Labour Party members have on the Police Board will the Chief Constable Stephen House take up the challenge?
Glasgow East MP John Mason said;
"We have had a series of extremely serious allegations in the media over the past two weeks, including new reports over the weekend, and people in Glasgow deserve to have all of these issues properly investigated. This is no longer about the personal tragedy of Steven Purcell or even how recent events are impacting on the running of the city. The issues reported in the media go well beyond that, which is why I am now referring the matter to Strathclyde Police."
It is clear that the Police have to investigate such an issue of concern, to not do so would be a breach of Public trust.
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said;
"We've never seen any evidence of any improper influence over former councillor Steven Purcell by anyone."
I would like to ask the spokesman, did you ever see Steven Purcell take cocaine?
For the Glasgow Labour Party living in denial, Tom Harris said;
"John Mason is a Glasgow MP and so he should stop attacking the city of Glasgow."
It seems that Harris confuses the City of Glasgow with the Glasgow Labour Party which is understandable since they have ruled Glasgow as a Labour Fiefdom for 80 years unopposed.
The City of Glasgow belongs to the people not the Glasgow Labour Party, there should be an investigation and that investigation should start now.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
It seems that the Labour Council of shame may have a serious problem.
SNP MP John Mason has called on Strathclyde Police to start an investigation into the allegations of individuals and organisations improperly benefited from contracts awarded by council construction quango, City Building.
So, given the prominent role that the Glasgow Labour Party members have on the Police Board will the Chief Constable Stephen House take up the challenge?
Glasgow East MP John Mason said;
"We have had a series of extremely serious allegations in the media over the past two weeks, including new reports over the weekend, and people in Glasgow deserve to have all of these issues properly investigated. This is no longer about the personal tragedy of Steven Purcell or even how recent events are impacting on the running of the city. The issues reported in the media go well beyond that, which is why I am now referring the matter to Strathclyde Police."
It is clear that the Police have to investigate such an issue of concern, to not do so would be a breach of Public trust.
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said;
"We've never seen any evidence of any improper influence over former councillor Steven Purcell by anyone."
I would like to ask the spokesman, did you ever see Steven Purcell take cocaine?
For the Glasgow Labour Party living in denial, Tom Harris said;
"John Mason is a Glasgow MP and so he should stop attacking the city of Glasgow."
It seems that Harris confuses the City of Glasgow with the Glasgow Labour Party which is understandable since they have ruled Glasgow as a Labour Fiefdom for 80 years unopposed.
The City of Glasgow belongs to the people not the Glasgow Labour Party, there should be an investigation and that investigation should start now.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
7 comments:
Do Macdonald Road seriously believe calling a few newspaper clippings allegations will distract from Clayton?
And will Dr John include himself in the elected members who did nothing while Steven Purcell ran the city single handedly (allegedly)?
I don't recall him making any statements when he was a councillor, other than the usual head office press releases.
He was on the Executive Committee and "Leader of the Opposition". Did he see nothing, or was there nothing to see?
Dear Monty
“Do Macdonald Road seriously believe calling a few newspaper clippings allegations will distract from Clayton?”
I have no idea why don’t you ask them.
“And will Dr John include himself in the elected members who did nothing while Steven Purcell ran the city single handedly (allegedly)?”
Given that there wasn’t a coalition, I don’t see your point.
“I don't recall him making any statements when he was a councillor, other than the usual head office press releases”.
Does your memory count as evidence?
“He was on the Executive Committee and "Leader of the Opposition". Did he see nothing, or was there nothing to see?”
Well he didn’t see Purcell doing cocaine but that is now in the public domain isn’t it.
I have a question, why did why did council employees say on policy issues;
“Oh I will speak to Willie Haughey about that. He will be interested.”
You seem to know a lot about Glasgow City Council, please explain.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
Why would you think I know a lot about Glasgow City Council?
I'm aware of the way councils work and the role of their members and committees.
As a Glaswegian I know who the senior councillors are and take an interest in their statements. Maybe that's unusual but I don't think its unique.
In fact I don't recall any councillor expressing concern about the then leader's supposed presidential style, but John Mason is the one targetting the former leader at the moment.
Despite the supposed collective responsibility the only time leaders tend to get criticised is when there's an election in the offing, including internal elections for group leader, or someone is justifying their swapping parties, like Alex Dingwall.
And just to clarify - he's one of my local councillors, which is why I'm aware of his recent change.
As to asking Macdonald Road, I'm not in a position to do that since I resigned my party membership.
What's Alan Clayton got to do with this? Nothing at all. Come on Monty, you can do better than that.
As for John Mason targeting Purcell, you really are spinning aren't you.
John Mason is asking for an investigation into part of Glasgow City Council and as a Glasgow MP he's perfectly entitled to do so.
Its my opinion that this has only now become an issue as a diversionary tactic from Clayton's behaviour. Including his attempt at justification in this morning's Herald.
And the call for investigation, if legitimate and separate from the smearing of Steven Purcell, should have been made a long time ago. John Mason could have done so when it was his direct responsibility.
It seems to me an unlikely coincidence that only now has the SNP decided that some contracts have been inappropriately granted.
But as I say, only an opinion informed by a level of cynicism directed to most politicians and their staff, which I think I'm entitled to.
Dear Monty
“Why would you think I know a lot about Glasgow City Council?”
Your statements on what John Mason said or didn’t say.
“I'm aware of the way councils work and the role of their members and committees”.
I must look into that myself at some point/
“As a Glaswegian I know who the senior councillors are and take an interest in their statements. Maybe that's unusual but I don't think its unique”.
Could be seen that way by some I suppose!
“In fact I don't recall any councillor expressing concern about the then leader's supposed presidential style, but John Mason is the one targetting the former leader at the moment”.
No, he is ‘targeting’ the information about the awarding of contracts by Labour quango City Building.
“Despite the supposed collective responsibility the only time leaders tend to get criticised is when there's an election in the offing, including internal elections for group leader, or someone is justifying their swapping parties, like Alex Dingwall”.
Alex Dingwall was foolish but he made his choice, he should come back and sort out whatever problems he has with individuals.
“And just to clarify - he's one of my local councillors, which is why I'm aware of his recent change”.
Me too and I don’t live there.
“As to asking Macdonald Road, I'm not in a position to do that since I resigned my party membership”.
The SNP HQ is now at Gordon Lamb House, 3 Jackson's Entry, Edinburgh, EH8 8PJ.
I have never been there myself so can’t speak in any informed way what they get up to if anything.
I am just a humble Glaswegian pottering about the place rather like Kwai Chang Caine in Kung Fu except I cannot play the flute.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
George, my comments on GCC are based on what I know of public pronouncements.
I'm certainly not aware of the kind of conversation you appear to have heard from council employees about Willie Haughey.
John Mason's previous status on the Executive even made it into the Herald Diary, which I read more than the council website.
The only information I've seen currently about the contracts is that they were awarded, a fact which would have been in the public domain from the day of award. So what's new to target if its not linked to the change of leader and associated allegations?
The reference to the "Labour quango" is interesting. It's not a quango, its an ALEO technically. Do we link the activity of all NDPBs (sad I know, but I used to work for one) with the party in charge?
Alex Dingwall said he had a problem with policies, attitudes and leadership - don't think it was as easy to sort out as you suggest. Very similar reasons for my own resignation as it happens. And after a lot of years in the party, I don't think he'll see his decision as foolish. I'm sure he thought long and hard about it.
Perhaps I've read too much into the timing of John Mason's statements, but on a personal level I'm angry that it appears to be obscuring the outrageous behaviour of Alan Clayton which I personally feel deserves much more scrutiny than its getting.
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