JOHN MASON REFERS LABOUR ALLEGATIONS TO STRATHCLYDE POLICE

JOHN MASON REFERS LABOUR ALLEGATIONS TO STRATHCLYDE POLICE

PEOPLE OF CITY HAVE RIGHT TO HAVE ISSUES PROPERLY INVESTIGATED

Following a series of extremely serious allegations reported in the media
since Steven Purcell resigned from the leadership of Glasgow City Council
on 2 March, Scottish National Party MP for Glasgow East Mr John Mason
today (Monday) formally referred the matter to Strathclyde Police.

Mr Mason wrote to Chief Constable Stephen House, following reports this
weekend alleging that individuals and organisations have benefited from
the Glasgow City Council external construction body City Building.

Key newspaper reports are:

* “The Sunday Times has learnt that Purcell revealed to friends and
colleagues last Saturday that he was a user of cocaine. At his home in
the west end of Glasgow, it was alleged that on a three-day trip to London
on council business last month he used the drug several times.” (Sunday
Times, 7 March).

* “Mr Purcell, once seen as the rising star of Scottish Labour, told four
colleagues he had previously used the Class A drug after police officers
spoke to him about a criminal inquiry. Two officers from the Serious
Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) spoke to Mr Purcell in his
office at Glasgow City Chambers on May 12 after his name came up during an
investigation into a major drug dealer. Although Mr Purcell was not
interviewed as a suspect or accused of a crime, the police warned him that
he was making himself vulnerable to blackmail.” (Sunday Herald, 7 March).

* “An investigation into one of Purcell’s initiatives – a construction
quango called City Building – found that the wage bill for senior
employees doubled in just two years. Some of those who benefited were
Labour members closely allied to the former leader. The same quango also
spent thousands of pounds on hospitality, including paying £2,000 for a
table at a Labour party fundraiser where, among several Labour figures, it
entertained Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray.” (Scotland on Sunday, 14
March).

Commenting, Mr Mason said:

“We have had a series of extremely serious allegations in the media over
the past two weeks, including new reports over the weekend, and people in
Glasgow deserve to have all of these issues properly investigated.

“This is no longer about the personal tragedy of Steven Purcell, or even
how recent events are impacting on the running of the city. The issues
reported in the media go well beyond that, which is why I am now referring
the matter to Strathclyde Police.”