Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Chris McCall

Labour accuses Lord Provost of losing control after rammy at Glasgow City Council

Labour has accused the Lord Provost of Glasgow of losing control after a bad-tempered council meeting ended in accusations of threats being made to a councillor.

Frank McAveety accused SNP member Graham Campbell of threatening him at the conclusion of proceedings at the City Chambers yesterday.

The Nationalist was said to have shouted at other members to "shut up" - and McAveety then tried to raise a point of order about his conduct as the meeting came to an end.

McAveety asked the Lord Provost about this as "no action was taken" and "could you give us guidance and advice on how that matter can be addressed."

But in response Campbell said: "You can address it with me outside".

Campbell later accused McAveety of "scraping a very empty barrel" - while his party told the Record it was simply a "misunderstanding".

But another Labour councillor blamed the rowdy scenes on the SNP's Jacqueline McLaren, who chairs full council meetings in her role as Lord Provost.

McAveety tweeted after the meeting: "Astonishing to hear threats being made to me by SNP councillor Graham Campbell.

"The failure to intervene by the Lord Provost to protect members who had been shouted at by Councillor Campbell was unacceptable.

"We will be taking these matters further."

But Campbell fired back: "Frank even for you, this is really scraping a very empty barrel.

"The meeting had already ended and I gave you the chance to discuss your concerns with me.

"Can’t think why you’d think a Black man trying to reason is somehow a threat - especially given your own behaviour in chambers."

There were heated scenes in the Glasgow council chambers yesterday (Glasgow Live)

Fiona Higgins, a Labour member for the Canal ward, said: "The SNP councillor who threatened a fellow councillor in full council today must be held to account.

"The Lord Provost must also be held accountable for their complete abdication of responsibility for council proceedings."

Councillors had been debating the introduction of a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in the city centre from June 1.

The meeting was adjourned by McLaren but quickly became heated as Labour members Bill Bulter and McAveety tried to make points of order.

A council source told the Record: "Full council meetings can often be bad-tempered. This was very much nothing out of ordinary."

A spokesman for the SNP group of councillor said: "After the Lord Provost had adjourned the meeting there were a number of raised voices, which can happen from time to time.

"Any interpretation to the contrary has clearly been a misunderstanding, however, any such disagreements should be discussed calmly and professionally rather than shouted across the council chamber after the meeting has already ended."

To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.

READ NEXT:

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.