SNP chief under fire from party over “bullying”
North Lanarkshire’s SNP group leader Tom Johnston has been accused of“bullying”and“sexist” behaviour by furious colleagues, as bitter infighting breaks out within the beleaguered group.
The row comes after a dozen councillors — more than one third of the group’s number — were ordered to attend formal investigatory meetings following “complaints” by the council’s chief executive, Des Murray.
It is understood that Mr Murray was angered by some SNP councillors’ comments about the ongoing issue at the St Ambrose/buchanan High campus in Coatbridge and the recent bumper redundancy payment to Janice Hewitt, the former chief officer of Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire.
Following his intervention, Councillor Johnston is said to have instructed the group’s business manager, Councillor Paul Di Mascio, to arrange and conduct the meetings. By doing so he has been accused by outraged colleagues of showing a “complete disregard for democracy” and for standing orders, the group’s governing rules.
Claims that the veteran Cumbernauld representative engages in bullying and sexist behaviour have also been made by disgruntled colleagues.
Councillor Johnston only became group leader four months ago.
The former primary school head teacher ousted previous incumbent David Stocks in March from the role he had held for eight years.
A well-placed party source said: “This has been brewing since Tom Johnston took over.
“His leadership style and manner is rubbing a lot of people up the wrong way.
“He was a schoolteacher and with his curt and condescending attitude towards colleagues, it seems like he thinks he’s still in the classroom.
“To make matters worse Tom has been on holiday up north for some time now and no-one can get a hold of him to get this mess sorted out. This whole thing has been handled appallingly.
“Ordering people to attend formal meetings without telling them what it entails is not on.
“It’s a complete shambles and couldn’t have come at a worse time with a byelection coming up in Coatbridge in just a few weeks’ time.”
All 12 councillors have vowed not to attend the investigatory meetings and, after initially planning to outline their grievances in a letter to Councillor Johnston, have instead demanded a special group meeting with the underfire leader.
Councillor Johnston failed to reply to repeated requests for his views on the situation and what it means for his continued leadership of the North Lanarkshire group.
A North Lanarkshire Council spokesperson declined to comment on the involvement of the chief executive in the matter.