PURCELL "SUSPENDED" FROM LABOUR - MURPHY

PURCELL "SUSPENDED" FROM LABOUR - MURPHY

URGENT CLARIFICATION NEEDED ON STATUS OF DISGRACED EX-COUCIL LEADER

Speaking after today's BBC Scotland Politics Show, in which Scottish
Secretary Jim Murphy said that former Glasgow City Council leader Steven
Purcell had been suspended from the Labour Party, Glasgow East SNP MP John
Mason demanded clarification of Mr Purcell's status from Mr Murphy.

Mr Mason said:

"Has Steven Purcell been suspended by Labour, as indicated by Jim Murphy?
And if not, why not?

"This may be another gaffe by Jim Murphy, showing he doesn't know the
difference between Labour's disgraced ex-leader of Glasgow City Council and
their disgraced ex-candidate in Moray, Stuart MacLennan.

"Either way, we need total clarity on this issue. The people of Glasgow
deserve to know, just as they are entitled to ask why disciplinary action
has not been taken against Mr Purcell if that is the case."


The transcript from today's BBC Politics Show is as follows:

Glenn Campbell:

And Jim Murphy you’ve obviously had problems here in Glasgow, the Leader of
the council resigning in controversial circumstances. Is he still a member
of your party?

Jim Murphy:

He has been suspended from the party which is what you do when people, em…
when you take action against these folk. It’s the maximum action you can
take…

Glenn Campbell:

Can you not expel him?