SNP HIT BY TWO
One councillor resigns after facing criminal charges and another cites ‘bullying’ from council leadership
TWO Glasgow SNP councillors have resigned from the party after it came to light that one of them has been subject to criminal charges.
It is understood Michael Cullen, councillor for Garscadden/Scotstounhill, has been charged in relation to perverting the course of justice over allegations he made of sexual assault.
Mr Cullen (below) was called to a meeting with council leader Susan Aitken and the SNP business manager Greg Hepburn, where he admitted there were charges against him but that he denies the charges.
It is understood he did not report the charges against him to the SNP and they were brought to the leadership’s attention by a third party.
Mr Cullen was accompanied by fellow councillor Elspeth Kerr (right) of Drumchapel/Anniesland who, after Mr Cullen resigned, also stated her intention to resign from the SNP group.
She is not in any way connected to the criminal proceedings against Councillor Cullen.
Ms Kerr has since made allegations about “bullying, corruption and a dictatorship” at the heart of the council leadership.
She said that the meeting she attended with councillor Cullen was “the straw that broke the camel’s back”.
The SNP said no formal complaints have been made and sources close to Aitken said Councillor Kerr has received political and financial help from the SNP group.
The financial help is believed to be in relation to several years’ worth of council tax arrears. In February last year, Ms Kerr owed the council £12,236.
Ms Kerr said: “Susan Aitken in my opinion is running the council like a dictator. She thinks she is in charge of everything there is no democratic process.”
Ms Kerr said while she has not made formal complaints through party procedures, she has raised concerns before within her branch and at SNP group meetings.
She said: At the AGM this year I likened the SNP group to George Orwell’s Animal Farm – that some are more equal than others.” Ms Kerr said the claims about corruption related to Ms Aitken’s husband being involved with a charity venture that received a shop with a rent of £1 from the council-owned City Property. The Glasgow Times can today reveal Ms Aitken was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Standards Commissioner following an investigation.
Last year, Russell Robertson and Glenn
Elder resigned from the SNP and now sit as Change Glasgow. Mr Elder was also facing an accusation of “inappropriate conduct” following an incident which left a council employee feeling distressed. Mr Robertson had recently been re-admitted to the party after he resigned when he and his partner were facing charges, of Which Mr Robertson was later cleared.
He lost his post in the administration, which came with financial remuneration, which no longer existed when he returned,
The SNP’s number was boosted by one when Anne McTaggart left Labour for the SNP.
Ms Kerr said: “The SNP took over with the view it would be more democratic and open but that has not happened.
“When Glenn Elder and Russell Robertson left we had a meeting and I voiced concerns at the meeting.
“Susan Aitken’s office is more open to some than others and I’m definitely not welcome there.” The councillor, who said she has been a SNP member for 30 years, said there are too many career politicians in the SNP.
She added: “Some people are in there not just for independence but for themselves. Susan Aitken’s cabinet is bought with enhanced wages for their positions”
A source close to Aitken said: “Throughout her three years in the group, Elspeth regularly contributed at group meetings and received support from the leadership whenever she needed it, from financial matters to issues she faced within her local branch.
“Given this, we are perplexed as to why she has become disillusioned with party politics and why that has manifested itself in personalised, false and defamatory smears and attacks against those who provided this support.”
The resignations take the SNP group numbers down to 36, which is seven short of a majority on the council but still enough to run a minority administration.
An SNP spokesman said: “At a meeting with the SNP Whip on Thursday, Councillor Michael Cullen confirmed that he is currently facing potential legal action, and would step aside from the SNP in the meantime, in line with party protocol.
“Councillor Kerr objected to this course of action, and indicated that she would leave the SNP as a result.
“While we are disappointed by that decision, we would clarify that Councillor Kerr has at no stage made any allegations of bullying within the SNP group.”
Elspeth received support from the leadership whenever she needed it, from financial matters to issues she faced within her branch