Steven Purcell is questioned by police in drugs probe

Published on Friday 4 June 2010 01:22

FORMER Glasgow City Council leader Steven Purcell was questioned by police yesterday as they continued to investigate his admission of drug use.

Strathclyde Police said Mr Purcell attended an interview "voluntarily" at a police station in the city. Police said the 37-year-old was questioned in relation to "an ongoing criminal inquiry".

The force launched an investigation in April after Mr Purcell admitted to a newspaper he had taken cocaine.

A police spokesman said: "Strathclyde Police can confirm that Steven Purcell attended voluntarily at a police office in Glasgow on Wednesday June 2 to assist with an ongoing criminal inquiry."

Once widely seen as a rising star of the Labour Party, Mr Purcell shocked colleagues when he stepped down as council leader and councillor for Glasgow's Blairdardie ward in March citing "stress and exhaustion".

It later emerged that he was treated at a private hospital specialising in drug and alcohol dependency.

Mr Purcell admitted earlier this year he had taken cocaine a "handful" of times since he was first offered it at a party.

He also said he had problems with alcohol before he decided to step down.

Mr Purcell was elected to the post of council leader in 2005 when he was 32. He was first elected to the council in May 1995 and served as convener of development and regeneration, then education, before becoming leader.