Getting more police on the streets and finding a new use for two former Ruchazie school sites are two of the problems election hopefuls want to solve in Glasgow North East.
Candidates in the council election on May 5 are fighting to win one of three seats in the ward. It includes the areas of Easterhouse, Ruchazie, Provanhall, Provanmill and Gartloch.
One candidate said “people in the North East of Glasgow have always been some of the hardest hit by every crisis.”
READ MORE: Glasgow Election 2022: New high school needed in Springburn and Robroyston
Who won last time?
The three current councillors Labour’s Maureen Burke, and the SNP’s Ruairi Kelly and Mandy Morgan are seeking re-election. In 2017 Ms Burke won the most votes followed by Mr Kelly and Ms Morgan.
- Maureen Burke, Labour, 1,176 votes (27% first preference votes)
- Ruairi Kelly, SNP, 1,160 votes (22% first preference votes)
- Mandy Morgan, SNP, 1,035 votes (17 % first preference votes)
Who can I vote for this time?
Maureen Burke - Labour
Married grandmother-of-two Maureen Burke grew up in Easterhouse and has been a councillor since 2012. She aims to fight for Glasgow to get a better budget settlement from the Scottish Government if re-elected. Mrs Burke helped residents set up a committee to clean up their community during the pandemic and has joined in the clean-ups.
Explaining more about her background, she said: “Growing up in Easterhouse with my three sisters and brother was difficult at times. Both mum and dad had TB and had long spells of unemployment, which made life financially difficult for them. So leaving school at 16 was not a choice - it was a must to help with the finances to support my family.
"I started work in Gelfers tie factory in Bridgeton in 1974 then at the age of 39 I enrolled on a computing course at John Wheatley College in Easterhouse. This led me into a new line of work in an office based environment.”
Mrs Burke went on to work for an MSP and has also been chair of the Seven Lochs Wetlands Park and helped secure a £14 million pound revamp of Lethamhill golf course.
She said: “The past 10 years I have had the privilege to serve my constituents working for them with housing ,education, cleansing, potholes, fly-tipping and other various issues.”
Ruairi Kelly - SNP
With a background in construction, Ruairi Kelly said he will “continue to make the delivery of housing and local infrastructure a priority - building on our record numbers of social and affordable housing being delivered.”
He said the cost-of-living crisis, persistent health inequalities and the need to retain wealth within communities are key issues in Glasgow North East.
Mr Kelly said: “We are addressing this with policies such as free school meals and the children's holiday food programme, which takes a bit of pressure off parents and ensures that children are getting healthy meals throughout the year. The pantry also provides somewhere that people can get healthy food and a fraction of the supermarket prices tackling poverty, health, waste and environmental issues.
“Supporting local businesses and social enterprises will continue to be a focus having just secured over £50,000 for a youth enterprise centre in The Lochs.”
Iain McLarty- Greens
Climate and transport campaigner Iain McLarty, who grew up in the North East of Glasgow, said Scottish Greens will prioritise “making rent more affordable and houses better insulated to cut your bills.”
He said: “For my whole life, people in the North East of Glasgow have always been some of the hardest hit by every crisis. Whether it's the current challenges of the cost of living, Glasgow's long-term struggles with health, or the biggest crisis of all - the climate emergency. We need to tackle these by helping ordinary people first, rather than further lining the pockets of the richest.”
Mr McLarty said the party will also “invest in public transport that goes where you need, costs less (ideally free), and is publicly-run.”
He added: “ And we'll support community food projects so that good food is available to everyone and is increasingly locally grown.”
Cam Milne - Scottish Libertarian Party
The Scottish Libertarian party says it stands “with the people of Scotland in favour of individual liberty, a free and sound economy, foreign neutrality and political independence.”
Mandy Morgan - SNP
Mandy Morgan grew up in the East End and has helped set up Ruchazie food pantry in the area as well as source funding for a number of projects.
The former Smithycroft high school pupil said: “I live locally in the ward that I currently serve and I have brought up four lovely boys on my own. With a background in the housing sector, I know and understand the struggles that face people in communities, from challenges accessing jobs, training and childcare to being able to afford to put food on the table.”
Ms Morgan said she has supported Fare in Easterhouse and St Paul’s in Blackhill with many projects including a bonfire night display to reduce “risky behaviour,” which was a success. Other projects include setting up and urban farm and trying to develop two former school sites.
Ms Morgan said: “I wanted to support the development of the two former school sites in Ruchazie, which are acting as a physical divide and a blight in the community.”
Describing herself as a listening ear, she added: “If I am lucky enough to be re-elected on May 5, I promise to continue to work hard for me community, to support them and to find ways to make life better for them.”
John White - Conservative
Law student John White pledges to is to encourage more community police officers on the street to tackle anti-social behaviour.
The 19-year-old from the East End also wants to clean up the area, deal with fly tipping, return to a bi-weekly bin collection, scrap the bulk uplift charge and get potholes fixed.
Mr White said: “Being young I also want to work to ensure more employment and training in the ward. Young people are not motivated and supported enough.”
He decided to try and become a politician “as it is the only way to make a difference.”
Annie McAllister - Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
The Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition says voters should select their candidates to “maximise the chance of electing a working class socialist who’ll oppose all cuts.”
It said: “Elect a fighter not a council cutter.”
Sharon Greer - Labour
Sharon Greer pointed out Glasgow city’s parks department alone has seen a cut of 70 per cent. She said she aims to fight for a fair funding deal for the city.
Ms Greer said: “At the age of 46 I never envisaged myself standing for elected office.
“However, having witnessed the decline in our communities and our city including the destruction of our council services over the past five years. I became compelled to be become more involved in the cities day-to-day politics.”
She added: “Going forward Labour will cut the bulk uplift charge. Add 250 new cleansing workers, reintroduce the warmth payment for the over 80’s and we will implement a 10 year investment plan to improve the city’s parks and open spaces.”
