Council under pressure to review Steven Purcell's decisions

Published on Monday 8 March 2010 21:42

AUDIT Scotland has been asked to investigate the decisions taken by Steven Purcell when he was head of Glasgow City Council.

SNP MP John Mason has written to the scrutiny body as well as the Accounts Commission and the council's chief executive urging them to launch "an open and transparent" examination of decision-making practices at the council in light of the serious allegations against its former leader.

Last week, The Scotsman revealed the council had prepared to announce the Mr Purcell had a "chemical dependency" and has since faced demands to review major decisions taken by him.

Yesterday, the council insisted it would not launch such an examination, but Mr Mason said: "I have every sympathy for Steven Purcell and wish him well in his recovery. His personal situation is not the issue here, but the actions of those around him, particularly in the Labour Party, deserve scrutiny."

A Labour spokeswoman said: "John Mason is a lone figure in this warped crusade to exploit Steven Purcell's personal problems. He looks utterly pathetic and should be ashamed of himself.

"While everyone else wants Steven to sort out his personal life, Mr Mason is plotting how to score political points from it."