General
By G.A.Ponsonby
Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont has been urged to publicly condemn the bullying and intimidation employed by the Labour group on Glasgow City Council during this week’s budget debate, and to take disciplinary action against those responsible.
The calls from Glasgow MSP James Dornan follow reports that comments were made to a female councillor regarding her disabled son, who has an apprenticeship at a firm controlled by the Labour controlled local authority.
Mr Dornan, SNP MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, has written to Ms Lamont to urge her to take strong action, saying that Labour’s bullying tactics were unjustifiable.
The most serious allegation is that Cllr Anne Marie Millar – who resigned from the Labour Party on Tuesday this week – was led to believe her son’s apprenticeship with City Building, on which several Labour councillors sit as board members, was under threat if she failed to support her former party in a crucial budget vote.
A clearly distraught Cllr Millar broke down when giving her account of a conversation she claimed to have had with a Labour councillor. Labour won the crucial vote by a narrow margin despite defections of several Labour councillors who voted against Gordon Matheson’s ruling group.
Accusing the Labour group at the council of using “unnecessarily heavy-handed tactics” Mr Dornan, who is also a Glasgow councillor, said:
“No one who saw Cllr Millar yesterday could have been in any doubt that she had been on the receiving end of some very unpleasant behaviour. She was visibly shaken and upset by the intimidation she experienced.
“That was probably the worst example of the bullying tactics that Labour employed before and during the budget debate, but it was not the only one. Several other councillors – some of them members of the Labour group – came in for similar treatment.
“Obviously Glasgow Labour was under pressure, but that is no excuse for this disgraceful behaviour. It is no way to run a council or a city.
“Despite being Glasgow’s most senior Labour politician, Johann Lamont has been silent on this matter so far. That is not good enough. She must publicly condemn this behaviour in the strongest terms and institute disciplinary proceedings against those who were responsible for it.
“Continued silence from her on this matter can only lead to the conclusion that she has no problem with her party’s councillors behaving in this manner.
“The true nature of Glasgow Labour politics was laid bare yesterday, and it was not a pretty sight. Glasgow voters will have the chance to kick them out in May.
“In the meantime, Gordon Matheson must recognise that his position as council leader is untenable and resign, and Johann Lamont must take decisive action against the bullies in the Labour group. The people of Glasgow deserve nothing less.”
Gordon Matheson, who took over as head of the Labour group from disgraced former leader Stephen Purcell, has refused to step down. A relieved Mr Matheson yesterday insisted he was relishing the forthcoming council elections and said: “bring it on”.
Mr Matheson’s group has been torn apart by a series of high profile resignations which has left Labour with a majority of just one.
Many Labour councillors are unhappy at what they see as London’s influence in the candidate selection process. May’s local authority elections could see former Labour colleagues facing one another in the battle for council wards in Glasgow.
The full text of James Dornan’s letter to Johann Lamont is below
Dear Johann
You will, I’m sure, be aware of the very serious allegations of intimidation and bullying by members of the Labour group at Glasgow City Council before and during yesterday’s budget debate.
The most serious allegation is that of the threat that was made to Cllr Anne Marie Millar in relation to her disabled son’s apprenticeship with City Building. No one who saw Cllr Millar yesterday could be in any doubt that she had been on the receiving end of intimidating behaviour: she was visibly shaken and upset.
I am very concerned that the official response of the Labour Council leadership to Cllr Miller’s allegation appeared to be “no comment”, without any commitment to investigate the matter urgently.
That was not the only incident reported, however, and it is clear that some unnecessarily heavy-handed tactics were employed by some members of the Labour group yesterday.
I realise that the Labour group was under some considerable pressure yesterday, however that in no way justifies the bullying and intimidation which took place. It is no way to run a Council or a city. Glasgow deserves better.
As leader of Scottish Labour and Labour’s most senior Glasgow politician, I trust that you plan to take strong action on this matter.
I urge you to publicly condemn yesterday’s behaviour by Labour and to begin disciplinary proceedings against those who were responsible for it.
I would be grateful if you could respond to me with details of the action you intend to take.
I look forward to hearing from you.
yours sincerely,
James Dornan
Great letter but it’s the response I want to see both in letter and in actuality.
Great letter but it’s the response I want to see both in letter and in actuality.
I’m sure that Johann, as a female politician, will do the right thing.
I’m sure that Johann, as a female politician, will do the right thing.
It wouldn’t be in her interests, or Labour’s, not to.
I’ve been a lurker for a few weeks, but this is my first post.
If folk will stoop as low as this to keep control of a city, how low will they stoop to keep control of a country?
I’ve been a lurker for a few weeks, but this is my first post.
If folk will stoop as low as this to keep control of a city, how low will they stoop to keep control of a country?
i’d like to think they will come clean bit i won’ t be holding my breath
Quote:i’d like to think they will come clean bit i won’ t be holding my breath
you could always write and complain to the bbc…but dont hold your breath for a fair outcome, thier bias is really rubbing our noses in it and it angers me that there is next to nothing i can do, if it was another brodcaster/sky / virgin, ect or any newspaper i can choose not to buy, but the bbc.. its unfair undemocratic and plain wrong. i’m sure if i was able to withdraw my “tv tax ” things would be very different
Quote:i’d like to think they will come clean bit i won’ t be holding my breath
you could always write and complain to the bbc…but dont hold your breath for a fair outcome, thier bias is really rubbing our noses in it and it angers me that there is next to nothing i can do, if it was another brodcaster/sky / virgin, ect or any newspaper i can choose not to buy, but the bbc.. its unfair undemocratic and plain wrong. i’m sure if i was able to withdraw my “tv tax ” things would be very different
That government at every level can and must make use of the power at its disposal to make a difference for individuals, families and communities. In these difficult times we need to be clear.
Equalities is not an add on for when the times are good.
Tackling discrimination is not just for when the sun shines.
And ensuring safe working conditions, fair pay and equal pay are not a bonus but are at the core of our economic strategy.
Across all levels of government we need:
• action to support vulnerable children,
• action to support carers
• action to reach out to women facing violence in their own homes
• action to create safer communities free from anti social behaviour and the bullying and intimidation that goes with it.
All these and many more remain critical to government action in tacking poverty, disadvantage and discrimination and are part of our strategy as much tackling the banks.
the silence of Lamont.
To be honest, Lamont spends all her time giving AS our FM a hard time. She will see nothing wrong in this sort of threatening behaviour. Afterall, it is what labour do,isn’t it?
As long as they dont ask her to do the sums for the budget…
I take it she wasn’t a maths teacher???
Johann Lamont is placed in a difficult position
…although she may be able to investigate as Scottish Labour leader…
Johann Lamont is placed in a difficult position with this one as her husband, Archie Graham, is Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council. However, I do think that Johann would find any bullying or intimadation of Labour Councillors by others, totally unacceptable. To me, she does not appear to be a person who would ignore such behaviour. I dont know if she has a locus to investigate what goes on within a council, although she may be able to investigate as Scottish Labour leader. The allegations do need to be investigated, but not internally, and if found to be true, then those councillors involved should be disciplined.
I hope you will bear with me if I don’t proffer any support for the rugby team wearing the thistle on Sunday.
This is the third time i’ve tried to thank folk for welcoming me.
My other posts haven’t been accepted.
Am i being censored for some reason?
Luckily i’m ‘onside’. Someone on the edge could be put off by this treatment.
I’ll email someone who i know is a Newsnet regular to see if all ‘newbies’ get treated this way.
This is the third time i’ve tried to thank folk for welcoming me.
My other posts haven’t been accepted.
Am i being censored for some reason?
Luckily i’m ‘onside’. Someone on the edge could be put off by this treatment.
I’ll email someone who i know is a Newsnet regular to see if all ‘newbies’ get treated this way.
I don’t want to participate in the Westminster one.