THE leader of the Labour group on Glasgow City Council has clung onto his role after seeing off a challenge.
George Redmond took over the position following the 2022 local elections, but it is understood some party members were unhappy with his decision not to present alternative budget plans.
Councillor Philip Braat, a former Lord Provost, put himself forward for the leadership role, but Redmond triumphed by 20 votes to 15.
Ahead of the meeting, a Labour source said it was “disappointing” that members were being “disruptive” when they should be “pulling together in the interests of the city”.
At Budget time in February, Redmond said his group was standing up to the SNP in Glasgow and Holyrood and wouldn’t take part in the “sham of setting a budget” which cuts services, but some members opposed the move.
Redmond was re-elected as a councillor last year after previously serving between 1999 and 2017. He challenged the late Malcolm Cunning for the leadership position in May last year and won by 24 votes to 11.
Glasgow’s council is currently run by a minority SNP administration, which returned 37 councillors last May, while Labour is the largest opposition group with 36 members. The Greens, who have 10 councillors, have a working agreement with the SNP.
Frank McAveety will also remain the Labour group’s business manager after defeating Stephen Curran by 19 votes to 15, with one spoilt ballot.
