I’ll repay some expenses – Bolander

Glasgow’s Lord Provost Eva Bolander has apologised and agreed to pay back some of her expenses after an outcry over some of her claims.

Ms Bolander, also an SNP councillor, acknowledged in a letter to her colleagues that some of the claims should not have been made, after a public backlash against details of some of the expenses.

Her letter to fellow councillors said that all claims were within the rules, but said that ‘on reflection’ there were items that she wouldn’t have chosen to reclaim.

She wrote in the letter, first revealed in the Evening Times. “Although the spending incurred was within the rules, on reflection there are items which I should not have chosen to reclaim.

“I am sorry about that and I am in discussion with financial services to come to an arrangement to repay the relevant expenditure.”

Ms Bolander claimed £8,000 in expenses over two years, spending money on haircuts, coats, nail treatments, and over 20 pairs of shoes.

Her letter went on: “I have been proud to be able to open up the city’s civic functions to new groups and events; including volunteers, community councillors, LGBT Pride and Black History Month.