Monday 29 March 2010

PURCELL INTERVIEW LEAVES UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

PURCELL INTERVIEW LEAVES UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

MASON WRITES TO POLICE - STRATHCLYDE MUST INVESTIGATE PURCELL CONTACTS

GLASGOW’S PROBLEMS GO BEYOND PURCELL

Former Labour rising star Steven Purcell’s interview in the Sun, 4 weeks
after he resigned as leader of Glasgow City Council has left more
questions for Labour and the Council to answer said Glasgow East MP John
Mason and Council Opposition leader James Dornan as it emerged others in
the council were told of Cllr Purcell’s drug use but took no action.

Mr Mason has repeated his call for a full independent investigation into
the council’s dealings and has again written to the police following
confirmation of supply and use of illegal drugs and confirmation by former
Councillor Purcell that he was believed to be at risk from blackmail.

The two also said that recent revelations over behaviour at Labour’s
quangos in Glasgow, expenses, questions over contracts and concerns over
relations with Labour party donors showed the Labour run council faced
questions going far beyond Steven Purcell.

In the interview The Sun says Purcell “suffered the emotional breakdown
amid fears gangsters had a video of him snorting cocaine”

Following a visit by the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency
Purcell adds “I told close colleagues at the council about it because I
think it is important to be honest. They were happy for me to carry on –
with the strict condition it didn’t happen again.”

Glasgow East MP John Mason said:

“There is no doubt Steven Purcell is facing difficult personal problems
and I hope everyone will give him the time to recover, but his interview
has left more questions than answers for the rest of Glasgow Labour.

“Strathclyde Police must now investigate who Mr Purcell was in contact
with and if the council or any individuals were exposed to undue influence
at any point. I am writing again to the police to ask them to investigate
this matter.

“This interview confirms not simply that he used cocaine but had a very
real fear that gangsters had a video of him and could blackmail him.

“There are real questions over who he had been spending time with and what
they wanted with him that the police must investigate.

“This goes beyond the individual and brings in questions of propriety in
the council that are of genuine concern to my constituents.

“Continuing concerns in the newspapers over council contracts, connections
to city businessmen and now gangsters are legitimate points that should be
investigated."

Glasgow Opposition Leader James Dornan said:

“Cllr Purcell’s resignation has simply exposed the cracks in Labour’s façade.

“The questions facing the Labour administration go well beyond Steven
Purcell’s personal situation.

“The council and the Labour party must tell us who was told about the
SCDEA visit, who knew that Steven Purcell was taking drugs and on what
grounds did they decide to take no further action.

“If Steven Purcell’s council colleagues had acted properly he may have had
the opportunity to get help for his problems rather than face the
situation he and Glasgow are now in.

“As Scotland’s largest authority with the largest mainland budget there
are billions of pounds that must be properly accounted for and it is
essential for Glasgow that we know council money is being spent properly
not lavished on champagne lifestyles and luxury lunches.

“This week councillors will have the opportunity to open the council up to
real scrutiny by voting with the SNP for a full statement and a full
investigation. If Labour are so sure there is nothing wrong then they
should have nothing to hide.”

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