Glasgow Labour on brink of ‘civil war’ as councillors plot to change leader

JUST days after coming within a seat of replacing the SNP in Glasgow, the Labour group in the city is reportedly on the brink of

“civil war”.

Councillor George Redmond is confident he has the votes to replace Malcolm Cunning as leader and is set to challenge him for the post at a meeting of the group on Monday.

Meanwhile, Labour’s deputy leader Eva Murray – seen by some as Councillor Cunning’s anointed successor – faces a challenge from Soriya Siddique, while Frank Mcaveety could soon replace

Bill Butler as the group’s business manager.

Both the challengers are supporters of Mr Redmond. It’s understood he also has the backing of councillors Elaine Mcdougall, Cecilia O’lone and a “number” of the new members.

However, Mr Cunning says he won’t go without a fight, describing Mr Redmond as the “politics of the past”.

Mr Redmond stood down as a councillor after 18 years in 2017.

A source told The Herald: “We’ve known a leadership challenge was on its way when Redmond announced he was coming back last year.

“He has a large property portfolio, he runs a credit union. He doesn’t need the money. He could only have been coming back to be the leader of the group or leader of the council.

“What’s surprised everyone is how quickly he’s moved against Malcolm. This is an all-or-nothing challenge. If he doesn’t win there’s no chance he’s going to get a front bench position.”

The source added: “Can you call this a civil war? Absolutely.”

Mr Redmond told The Herald he respected Mr Cunning. “I think the challenges in front of us probably needs a change of direction. And you need someone with the experience that I have, the skill set that I have and the drive and determination that I have to take Glasgow Labour forward.”

He said the party had been caught between independence and unionism, but that from speaking to voters in the run-up to last week’s election, the big issues were “getting our bins sorted, clean our streets, fix those potholes, do something with the city centre.”

Mr Cunning defended his record, saying the party had come within a handful of votes of replacing the SNP as the city’s largest group.

He said: “Glasgow Labour delivered the best result in the city since before the referendum in 2014. We need to move forward, building on that success. Now is not the time to go backwards to the politics of the past.”

Meanwhile, Labour’s attempt to retake one of its red wall seats in an English byelection has been thrown into turmoil amid claims of a “stitch-up” by party bosses.

The entire executive committee of Wakefield’s local Labour group has quit, accusing the party’s ruling body of excluding local candidates.

The vote has been triggered by the resignation of Tory MP Irman Ahmad Khan, who was convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage boy.