GLASGOW Labour leader George Redmond has announced his frontbench team to oppose the city’s ruling SNP and Greens coalition.
The councillor, who made a dramatic return to the city’s political scene after years of absence, has rewarded key allies with top spots on his shadow team in Glasgow city chambers.
Former council leader and ex-Scottish Government minister Frank McAveety has been given the role of business manager.
Redmond’s deputy Soryia Siddique has been appointed spokesperson for housing, development, built heritage and land use.
Left-winger Matt Kerr, who was briefly suspended from the party after he dramatically walked out of a meeting rather than vote with his colleagues who planned to cut 200 teachers from the city’s budget, has been appointed the spokesperson for workforce.
An SNP source quipped that the appointments reflected “more a talent puddle than pool”.
Elaine McDougall, who was appointed chair of the Glasgow branch, takes on the roles of spokesperson for health and care as well as equalities, homelessness and addiction services.
.@RedmondLabour has unveiled the new frontbench team for @Labour_GCC. See below George's comments on the new team and who has been appointed 🌹 pic.twitter.com/hwbBHpi81x
— Glasgow Labour Group (@Labour_GCC) June 27, 2022
The former lord provost Philip Braat is now shadow city treasurer.
Jill Brown has taken on the role of spokesperson for education, while Jim Kavanagh was appointed spokesperson for neighbourhood services and assets.
The climate and green new deal brief is being handled by Stephen Doherty while former deputy presiding officer Patricia Ferguson takes on culture, sport and international relations.
Saqib Ahmed is now spokesperson for transport while Cecilia O’Lone takes the communities brief.
Redmond, who held senior roles in Glasgow’s last Labour administration before the party lost the city to the SNP, took power of the group in a coup against Malcolm Cunning, following the party regaining ground in May’s local elections.
The former leader and his top lieutenant Eva Murray are both notably absent from the new top team.
In a statement posted to Twitter, Redmond, who will also take on the city region economy and inclusive growth spokesperson role, said: "I'm delighted to put forward a strong team that will harness the fantastic talent in the Glasgow Labour Group.
“Our new team brings in fresh experience and diversity.
“They will effectively hold this SNP administration to account and stand up for the City of Glasgow.”
We told previously how Redmond, a landlord and manager at the BCD Credit Union in Glasgow, was absent for the first council vote after the election because he was in Seville following Rangers’ defeat in the Europa League final in May.
He was said to have voted remotely and to have called in from an airport in Spain.
