Deadwood Fights Back

Glasgow City Chambers witnessed some extraordinary scenes yesterday - as the ruling Labour group attempted to introduce the council's budget for 2012/13.

Several Labour councillors rebelled against their own side - and voted in support of an alternative budget proposed by opposition parties within the council - before the ruling Labour group eventually won the day by 40 votes to 38. 

But the Labour party - which has ruled Glasgow like a one-party state for many years - knows it is in deep trouble because its majority position within the council is now under threat - like never before.

Up to nine councillors seem to voted against their own side (Labour) - and a number of these individuals have already jumped ship and joined the main opposition party - the SNP.

Apparently the background to the ill-feeling and bad blood is a recruitment exercise - peculiar to Glasgow - which saw 20 or so sitting councillors being de-selected and prevented from standing for Labour - in the May 2012 council elections.

The councillors who have been cast adrift have been described as Labour's 'deadwood' - in anonymous briefings from inside the party - and this way of dealing with people seems to have poured even more fuel on the fire.

So with only weeks to go before the council is up for re-election - the Labour group is in turmoil and its once comfortable majority is now being seriously challenged - for the first time in many a year.

The Labour leader - Gordon Matheson, a very personable chap - came out of the budget meeting proclaiming a great victory on behalf of his troops.

But to my mind he had the look of a haunted man - and what he had to say was not in the least convincing.

The reality is that the ruling administration in Glasgow have been treating people with contempt for a long time - for example in relation to equal pay - and over the ridiculous 'top up' payments to councillors for sitting on arm's length bodies like Cordia.

Many people in Glasgow - clients of Action 4 Equality Scotland - are still fighting for equal pay.

While the big money 'top up' payments to councillors were only stopped after the May 2011 elections - when the new Scottish Government stepped in to put an end to the practice.

No doubt there will be more fireworks in the weeks ahead.