STURGEON AND MASON - GLASGOW NEEDS CHAMPIONS

STURGEON AND MASON - GLASGOW NEEDS CHAMPIONS

LABOUR COUNCIL REJECTS INFORMATION REQUEST

Campaigning in Glasgow East the SNP’s Depute Leader Nicola Sturgeon and
local MP John Mason said that the events of recent week’s confirmed
Glasgow needed more strong local champions as they highlighted further
efforts by the Labour Council and its agencies to keep information on how
public money was used secret.

The Council and its building firm City Building last week refused to give
out information under freedom of information laws covering: details of
spending on consultants, hospitality and public relations by City Building
and details of any trips outside Scotland by officials within City
Building, details of the official diary of Council leader Steven Purcell,
of engagements attend by the former council leader and the details of Mr
Purcell’s expenses claims.

Delivering the SNP’s More Nats Less Cuts message as he met voters at the
Mecca bingo in Parkhead Mr Mason said:

“I care passionately about Glasgow. That’s why I stood in Glasgow East
two years ago and that is why as the MP for this area I have put my
constituents at the heart of everything I do.

“From day one I have worked to champion the concerns of people in Glasgow
East and to ensure their voice is heard at the heart of Westminster.

“When I hear Labour taking the city for granted, putting their own
interests before their constituents and claiming to "own" this
constituency it makes me determined that people in Glasgow East and across
the rest of the city should have the chance not to elect the usual
politicians, but to elect strong local champions.

“Two years ago voters in this constituency put their trust in me and in
the SNP to stand up for them as they sent a message to Downing St over tax
rises and fuel prices. This year I hope voters will continue to trust me
to be their local champion and will send that strong message to Labour
across Glasgow that this city belongs to the people, not one party.

Govan MSP and SNP Depute Leader Nicola Sturgeon added:

“For voters in Glasgow East and across the country this election isn’t
about who gets the keys to number 10 but about who will put Scotland’s
communities first.

“John Mason has been an outstanding local champion for Glasgow East,
putting this area firmly on Westminster’s map and I know with the support
of people in this constituency he will continue to put their priorities
first.

“Labour’s continued silence and their refusal not just of an independent
inquiry, but even to release information around their former leader and
the organisations he founded demonstrates on a daily basis that Glasgow
needs SNP MPs to be the city’s champions.”

Details of FOI rejections

Glasgow City Council has refused to release the diary of its former leader
– claiming that while they have an electronic version of the leaders diary
they consider it to be a personal diary.

Glasgow City Council has refused to release details of official
engagements attended by Cllr Purcell as they are in the diary – which it
considers a personal diary.

Glasgow City Council has refused to release details of expenses claims –
stating that expenses claims are published in Councillors declarations.
This is not a detailed publication.

CITY BUILDING

City Building has refused to detail board and senior official expenses.
City Building claims councillors expenses in relation to city building are
recorded by the council – however this has only been the case since this
month.

City Building was asked for details of trips outside Scotland by board
members and officials – it responded that no board members had been on any
trips outside Scotland. The answer did not address the issue of senior
officials.

Despite the same information being revealed by SPT and other ALEOs City
Building claims spending on consultants and on PR is commercially
confidential.

City Building also claims its hospitality expenditure is commercially
confidential.