City Treasurer is sacked by leader
COUNCIL leader Susan Aitken has sacked the City Treasurer just a week after he challenged her for the leadership. Allan Gow has been removed from his post and replaced with councillor Richard Bell.
Ms Aitken narrowly saw off the challenge by 19 voted to 17 at the SNP Group AGM last week.
Days earlier she had sacked John Letford as the SNP business manager, who was backing Mr Gow for the leadership.
The change was expected after the vote, which means Ms Aitken cannot be challenged for at least another year.
Following the leadership election, Mr Gow told the Glasgow Times the vote had endorsed Ms Aitken’s position.
He said he would understand if Ms Aitken felt the need to make changes to her team at the council.
He was City Treasurer since 2017, when the SNP took over control at the City Chambers and passed three budgets with a minority administration and having to deal with sever budget cuts from Holyrood.
Mr Letford has been replaced with councillor Greg Hepburn.
Elaine Ballantyne has been replaced as convenor of the General Purposed committee with Christina Cannon.
Rhiannon Spear replaces Richard Bell as convenor of the Education committee and Allan Casey replaces Mr Hepburn as neighbourhoods committee convenor.
The changes are subject to the approval of the council’s City Administration Committee.
An SNP group spokesman said:
“The SNP group has an abundance of talent and with just two years to the next election some of that talent deserves the opportunity to continue delivering on our commitments and taking us into a second term delivering for Glasgow.
“Transforming local government and confronting the challenges faced by our citizens is a team effort. Everyone in Team SNP has their part to play.”