Call for leader to stand down
Special council meeting requested
The SNP have requested a special meeting of the council calling for Jim Logue to stand down as leader until allegations of corruption have been investigated by police.
The meeting will also deal with motions from the SNP to have the full report into Councillor Logue’s actions at North Lanarkshire Leisure released in full, after its release was blocked by the council.
The SNP Group had previously urged the council leader to step aside voluntarily while the investigation was underway but the Labour leader vowed to carry on.
All 76 current members of the council will now decide on the motions within the next two weeks following the submission of the request to the council’s chief executive.
SNP deputy leader Tom Johnston said: “The SNP has not taken this decision lightly but we made a promise to the people who elected us to fight for openness, transparency and accountability.
“North Lanarkshire Council has developed a poor reputation over the years and Councillor Logue’s refusal to step aside is a further example of everything that is wrong in this area.
“I am asking all councillors to support the three items that will go before this special meeting. It is imperative opposition councillors, and the public as a whole, have the opportunity to see the content of these audit reports.
“Councillors should also support our motion to remove Councillor Logue as leader in order for this council to save what is left of its reputation.”
The Labour leader is currently on holiday but has previously stated he would not stand aside.
Earlier this month, the Wishaw Press exclusively revealed fraud squad officers had launched a probe into allegations of corruption carried out by the Labour leader.
The alleged fraud surrounds two private companies – ESCA UK Ltd and No Limits Leisure Ltd – of which Councillor Logue was a past director.
Councillor Logue, who leads a minority Labour administration, has strongly denied all allegations that any overseas trips or accommodation have been paid by another body other than North Lanarkshire Council.
Deputy leader of the council Paul Kelly said: “We absolutely welcome the opportunity to talk about the smear campaign against Jim Logue.
“Jim Logue has spent his political life fighting the type of practices he is now being falsely accused of being involved in. As much as 30 years ago, he was exposing those in his own party in Monklands and he instigated the investigation into malpractice in procurement last year.
“No other council leader would risk the challenges of forcing an investigation into anonymous allegations and, as a result, procurement practice has changed completely.
“The truth is, this is a smear instigated by a bitter former Labour councillor and the bandwagon has been jumped on by the SNP. What’s even worse is the SNP have gone as far as to question the unimpeachable integrity of the council chief executive to score points against a Labour leader. That is utterly pathetic.
“Jim Logue is confident the police will find no case against him but understands they have to look into the complaint, no matter how spurious.”