QUESTIONS OVER LABOUR MISMANGEMENT OF SPT

QUESTIONS OVER LABOUR MISMANGEMENT OF SPT

RESIGNATION MUST BE START OF INVESTIGATION

Commenting on the resignation of Alistair Watson, Chairman of Strathclyde
Public Transport and the complaint made to Audit Scotland, Councillor
Graeme Hendry said:

"Cllr Watson may have stood down but the embarrassment for Labour is not
over. There are real questions to be answered about the management of
Strathclyde Passenger Transport.

"This resignation must mark the start of a thorough investigation into the
practices at SPT - particularly among management and board members when it
comes to expenses, travel and consultants.

"Alastair Watson is also an elected Councillor and Stephen Purcell must
guarantee that he will not hesitate to act if any wrong doing is revealed.

“On Thursday 11th February I made an official complaint to Audit Scotland
asking them investigate the use of public funds by Strathclyde Public
Transport.

“Over the past few weeks information has came into the public domain
raising serious questions over the use of funds at SPT, including the
expenses of the Labour chair of SPT, Alistair Watson . In these times of
economic recovery everyone must pull together to work in the best interest
of the country – that includes SPT.

“There must now be a full investigation by Audit Scotland to establish if
there is any wrongdoing here by any Labour councillors.”

MSP for Glasgow, Sandra White said:

“It is simply unacceptable for public funds to be used irresponsibly, and,
once again, it is Labour who are at the centre of an expenses scandal.

“The SNP Government have passed a Budget that will support economic
recovery and protect frontline services, meanwhile three Labour MPs face
criminal charges of false accounting, and in Gordon Brown a leader who has
had to pay back the most in expenses of any Scottish MP - over £12,000 -
and now there are serious allegations about financial mismanagement by
Labour councillors in Glasgow.

"When Gordon Brown finally has the courage to go to the polls, it will be
clear to see that nobody trusts Labour. Everyone has a duty to play their
part and ensure that the public get the fairest deal.”