Councillor’s anger over ‘spa break’ accusation
Bust-up over conference trip
A Wishaw councillor this week claimed that sexism was alive and well in the council chamber.
Rosa Zambonini slammed the behaviour of other elected members at last week’s full council meeting The SNP councillor sent a strongly worded email to all 70 North Lanarkshire councillors following the meeting. This followed a fraught exchange in the chamber in which Cumbernauld councillor Alan O’Brien claimed that elected members attending a conference, organised by local government association Cosla, were enjoying a “spa break” and a “trip with massages” at the plush Crieff Hydro. Speaking to the Wishaw Press this week, Rosa said: “The ‘spa break’ and the ‘ trip with massages’ comments crossed the line. “I believe the comments were directed at me and my SNP colleague Marina Lyle. “This councillor just doesn’t get why this behaviour would put people off, particularly young women, from entering politics.” In the email, Rosa, who attended the Cosla conference, said: “I am not for one second complaining about this fantastic opportunity given to me by the leader of the council and of the SNP group. “I can assure you my constituents will be so glad that I’m there learning about and discussing issues that will directly affect them. I can guarantee they will be much happier seeing that than mud-slinging and sheer nonsense being hurled across a democratic chamber.
“Some of the behaviour was borderline defamatory and, to be honest, downright embarrassing.
“I am not afraid of some of these egos which seem to permeate the very roots of these meetings, while they hide behind even more outrageous remarks on the comfort of social media.
“We need to acknowledge that for this council to move forward and to encourage, especially new young women, then behaviour has to improve.”
Rosa said that she had received many messages of support from both sides of the politicial divide at the council. Councillor O’Brien replied to her email. He wrote: “I’m sure your email is very interesting and all, but I need to tell you I gave up reading it after the second line as I’m kinda busy doing my job on behalf of my constituents.
“However, as you took the time to copy in every councillor in NLC, I’m fairly sure someone will appraise me if it is anything beyond a ‘Me thinks the lady doth protest too much’ routine?
“Just a wee bit of advice, Rosa. If you are going to go on tax-payer funded freebies to expensive spa resorts while simultaneously complaining about the levels of poverty in Wishaw, then perhaps you should either acquire some thicker skin or reconsider a career in politics?”