Glasgow Labour regime in meltdown as budget scrapes through

SNP MSP James Dornan has today called on Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council, to resign after his ruling Labour group’s budget was narrowly passed by councillors.

Labour came close to losing the vote after eight of their sitting councillors defected to vote on a joint opposition amendment. The loss of the eight councillors from the Labour group means that Labour now run a minority regime at the council.

Mr Dornan, the SNP MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, said: “Gordon Matheson has lost control of the Labour group and the last remaining shreds of his credibility as a leader. There is no confidence in his leadership and he must now resign.

“The opposition parties in the City Chambers worked together constructively for the good of Glasgow and were supported by former Labour councillors who could no longer stomach the bullying behaviour of their leader and their group. Labour only managed to scrape their budget through after some very unpleasant bullying tactics against members of their own group.

“This is actually a historic day for Glasgow – this is the beginning of the end of Labour’s years of mismanagement of our city. Labour have taken Glasgow for granted for too long.

“In May, the people of Glasgow will have a chance to sweep Labour away and elect an open and transparent SNP administration which will put the city and its people first.

“Until then, Glaswegians deserve better than leader who has lost the confidence of the entire City Chambers, including his own group. For the good of the city, Gordon Matheson should resign now.”