Police probe clears councillor logue

NL leader blasts failed smear as wasting cops’ time

Council leader Jim Logue says he is “delighted but not surprised” after a police investigation into allegations of corruption found no evidence of criminality.

The Airdrie Central representative labelled the accusations “spurious” and “a failed smear attempt” following Monday’s announcement.

Police informed North Lanarkshire Council’ s monitoring officer that the two-month investigation into the fraud claims – understood to relate to Councillor Logue’s directorships of two subsidiary companies of North Lanarkshire Leisure ( NLL) while he was its chair – had been concluded.

A statement from the local authority said: “The leader of the council has been cleared of any wrongdoing.”

Councillor Logue said: “It’s no surprise that Police Scotland has found no substance to the spurious allegations made against me.

“This whole episode has been a failed smear attempt and a waste of time for the police and for the council. In my view, the police should consider the extent to which their valuable time and resources have been wasted by the people behind this farce.

“Anyone who knows me and the way I go about my business knows that I would never be involved in fraud or corruption of any kind.

“I have been a councillor for 40 years. Thirty years ago I put my political prospects on the line to expose wrongdoing by members of my own party in Monklands District Council; last year, I ensured there was a proper investigation into allegations of corruption in procurement.”

He called the allegations to police “hugely disappointing”, and added: “I’m very grateful for the support of my family and my colleagues during what’s been a very difficult time.

“Over these weeks I’ve had emails, texts and conversations with people, which have been very supportive.

“I want to continue the tremendous amount of work to be done in North Lanarkshire – in building houses, with schools and in driving the local economy, and will keep focused on that. These are the things that matter to the people of North Lanarkshire.”

An SNP motion calling for Councillor Logue to stand down for the duration of the police investigation was defeated 40- 33 at a special council meeting last month; as were the party’s calls for the release of an internal audit report on NLL plus the outcome of the procurement investigation.

Group leader David Stocks, of Airdrie Central, said of the ending of police involvement on the accusations against Councillor Logue: “It’s just what I expected, as we didn’t expect anything to come of it; the police have said there’s no case to answer and that’s fine.

“However, we want to see these full reports as soon as possible, and I don’t see why we can’t now this is all over and done with.

“We can only move on once we see these full reports, discuss and learn from them; these are issues going back many years.”

He added of last month’s special council meeting: “There have been other issues in politics where politicians have taken a back seat until enquiries are over; that was all the group had said.

“Never at any time was it said that they believed what he was being accused of.”

A police spokesperson told the Advertiser: “Police Scotland has concluded its investigation and no criminality has been established.”

This whole episode has been a waste of time for the police and for the council

end of investigation Jim Logue has been informed that no criminality was established during a police probe

stocks Wants reports released