Health worries force Labour's rising star to quit his post

ONE of Labour's rising stars in Scotland is set to quit his post.

Steven Purcell, leader of Glasgow city council, had been tipped as a possible future leader of the party in the Scottish Parliament, but today he was expected to announce he is stepping down for personal reasons after concerns were raised by friends and family about his health.

Mr Purcell, 37, who has led the council since May 2005, has been a highly-visible leader who played a key role in securing the 2014 Commonwealth Games for the city, but reports today said those around him had become "deeply concerned" about the stress levels he had been displaying recently.

An expenses row at Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and the "enormous pressure" surrounding preparations for the Games were said to have "got on top of him" and left him exhausted.

The reports said he had agreed to seek medical help and was now under doctor's orders.

Reports said he would hope to get back in to active politics "in the next few weeks and months".