Community councillors feel snubbed
Politicians neglecting pow wows
Rutherglen MP Margaret Ferrier and MSP Clare Haughey have been accused of snubbing a community council.
Halfway Community Council have become increasingly frustrated at the lack of attendance from both SNP politicians at their monthly meetings since they were voted in.
Members told the Reformer Ms Ferrier, who was elected as MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West in 2015 and is a former chair of the group, had failed to turn up to any regular meetings since she was elected.
Ms Haughey became MSP for the constituency in May 2016 but is claimed to have not attended any meetings and has sent a representative in her place over previous months.
At a Halfway Community Council meeting on January 18, members voiced their concerns about not only their meetings being ignored by the SNP politicians, but past MSPs and MPs over the years.
A representative for the group said: “We know they are not legally obliged to attend our meetings but they have a moral obligation to do so.
“The MSP and MP have not been here since they were voted in.
“Since Margaret was voted in, we have not seen hide nor hair of her. It’s unacceptable.
“It’s not just morally but it’s the fact these areas are voting them in.
“We’re not asking them to be here for every meeting but they have a moral obligation and the community council is the voice of the community.”
Ms Ferrier defended her position by saying she regularly engages with Halfway Community Council with issues such as the school bus campaign, despite failing to attend meetings due to her work at Westminister on the day they are held.
She said: “On the day of the last Halfway Community Council meeting, I led a debate at Westminster on the closure of half of Glasgow’s job centres. I believe the closure of Cambuslang’s will hit people in Halfway hardest, and am fighting tooth and nail to keep it open. This debate didn’t end until 4pm, and it wasn’t possible to be in Halfway for 7pm to attend a meeting.
“The previous chair and current secretary of the group have visited my office on many occasions to discuss community issues, and my door always remains open to any community council or group in the constituency.”
Ms Haughey responded to the council’s concerns and said: “My parliamentary commitments make it difficult for me to attend as many meetings of local groups and community councils as I would like to on a Tuesday and Wednesday evening when parliament is sitting.
“I have been in correspondence with Halfway Community Council as a direct result of my staff representing me at their meetings. I have, for instance, raised the question of a new secondary school for Halfway in parliament on two separate occasions.
“I am more than happy to meet with any community group at a mutually convenient time, out with their regular meeting dates, where these conflict with my parliamentary schedule.”