Labour shut meeting down to avoid issue

Commenting on the decision of Glasgow's Labour Group to vote down a suspension of standing orders which would have allowed a debate on the future of the Accord Centre, Bailie David McDonald who was to second the motion said: "Labour today showed a callous disregard for democracy by denying the Council an opportunity to debate an issue of great importance to those affected, many of whom had waited in the public gallery for three hours to hear the discussion. 

"By talking over time repeatedly, Labour members used up the time available and denied us the chance to debate the final motion of the day.  This was a Labour abuse of power - on the last day before recess members should have taken the opportunity to debate an issue crucial to many Glasgow citizens."

Deputy Leader of the Glasgow SNP Group, Councillor Billy McAllister, who has worked closely with those seeking an agreeable replacement for the Accord Centre and was to propose the motion said: "Our motion today would have allowed the Council to get to the heart of the problem - this administration breaking their promise to the users of the Accord Centre.  The Labour administration had a chance to show leadership and resolve the issue facing the users of the centre.  The motion would have pushed the Labour administration to find a solution which meets the needs of the Accord Centre users.

Labour failed that test.  We will continue to work to find a satisfactory solution following the decision to close the Accord Centre and build a car park.  The people affected by the Accord debacle will not quickly forget Labour's abandonment of them in their hour of need."

Notes:

1. A copy of the motion can be found on the agenda here.

2. Members of the public, who have been campaigning for a replacement centre for the Accord Centre, waited for three hours to hear the debate.

3. There was uproar in the gallery and chamber as the meeting closed, following an SNP motion to suspend standing orders and allow the meeting to continue to a conclusion was voted down by the Labour administration.