Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Hamish Morrison

Glasgow Labour politician reported to ethics watchdog after son awarded contracts

A LABOUR politician who quit amid a probe into her son being awarded work by a housing association she sat on the board of is facing a standards complaint, The National can reveal.

Glasgow Labour councillor Elaine McDougall quit the board of Milnbank Housing Association amid an investigation into the circumstances of her son Gary being contracted for work by the organisation, sharing in a £4 million funding framework.

Now The National can reveal she has been reported to the Ethical Standards Commission over the matter.

She was reported by former Glasgow SNP councillor David Turner (below) who said McDougall had “serious questions” to answer.

He added: “She can’t get away with not answering questions.”

The Ethical Standards Commissioner declined to comment but this paper has been shown evidence it received a complaint from Turner highlighting an expose in the Sunday National which revealed the initial investigation into McDougall.

The contracts were awarded by Milnbank Housing Association to McDougall’s son Gary’s company in 2017, which was registered at her home address in Dennistoun.

A subsequent investigation found “no evidence” she had declared or managed the conflict of interest.

It also found that the housing association had subsequently changed its rules to allow businesses run by family members of people involved with the organisation to be awarded contracts.

McDougall has previously said she did declare an interest.

McDougall did not respond to requests for comment. Glasgow Labour declined to comment further. 

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.