Labour’s new Glasgow leader George Redmond said it was in “a much better place” when his party was in power, as he insisted he would help to “shape the future” of the city.
Critics of his appointment have said Labour is “going backwards” but Cllr Redmond, who was first elected in 1999, said there had been huge investment in Glasgow during his previous time in office.
Both Cllr Redmond, who has returned to the city chambers after five years out, and his new business manager, Cllr Frank McAveety, have held senior roles in Glasgow during long careers in local politics.
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Cllr Redmond, once the executive member for jobs, business and investment, said: “When you look back in the recent past and the roles we played, Glasgow was in a much better place.
“I think a lot of people would love to have the success that we had. We are not talking about hundreds of years ago and it was an exciting time for Glasgow.
“We understand the challenges in front of us, we have the hunger for positive change and the energy.”
He said the £1bn City Deal, the Clyde Gateway regeneration project and the Commonwealth Games were examples of the investment in the city during that time.
Cllr Soryia Siddique has been voted in as the group’s new deputy leader, taking over from Cllr Eva Murray. She is the first female from a diverse background to be elected to the role. Cllr Redmond said his colleague, a doctor and scientist, is a “formidable woman and we are excited she is part of our leadership team”.
He added the Labour group has “a great array of talent and we will be a formidable force”, with an “immense” mix of young and experienced women.
“We plan to be an effective opposition that will scrutinise and hold to account the administration.”
Asked what his group’s priorities would be, he said: “First and foremost, Labour chapped over 25,000 doors and there was a message that came across loud and clear, get the city cleaned up, fix the potholes and empty our bins.”
Cllr Redmond added voters also wanted the council to address the cost of living crisis and revitalise Glasgow city centre.
“Hundreds of kids in Glasgow will go to bed hungry tonight, hundreds of families can’t heat their homes,” he said. “There are big challenges for us and Labour is ready to play its part.
“We will hold them to account but we’re also leading in other policy areas. We won’t be looking to see what they put forward, we will put forward positive policies which will benefit Glasgow.”
One of Cllr Redmond’s first acts since taking the leadership on Monday has been to call a meeting of business leaders in the city. It is expected to take place early next week.
The Labour group leader said there would be “discussions on how we shape the future of Glasgow city centre” and wants to work with businesses “representing their interests and the people’s interests”.
“Glasgow city centre has a huge role to play in attracting visitors to Glasgow,” he said, adding the nightlife and retail sector had been “the envy of most cities”.
Cllr Redmond, a businessman and landlord, who represents the Calton ward, has previously chaired Glasgow Life, which runs the city’s culture and leisure services, and SPT, which manages the Subway, and was also the convener of the property and planning committees.
He stepped down as a councillor before the 2017 election but was re-elected at this month’s vote and launched a leadership challenge at Labour’s annual general meeting on Monday. Cllr Redmond defeated former leader Cllr Malcolm Cunning by 24 votes to 11.
Cllr Cunning didn’t believe it was the right time for a change of leader and said: “It needs to be a Labour Party of the 2020s, not the dog-end of the last century and the beginning of this.”
However, Cllr Redmond said: “I think the members decided it was time for a new leader. I can only put myself forward, they decided that.”
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