Glasgow - Openness and Transparency

Daily Record columnist Darren McGarvey (aka Loki) has his say on the extravagant spending spree of Glasgow's Lord Provost, Eva Bolander, at the taxpayers' expense.

Now the real issue here is accountability on the part of local council officials and elected politicians because the details of the Lord Provost's expenses claims had to be dragged out of Glasgow City Council by a freedom of information (FoI) request.

The Lord Provost says that all her expenses claims were 'within the rules', but my very polite request for a copy of these rules has been turned down even though Glasgow City Council says it aspires to become a world leader for openness and transparency.    

  

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/eva-bolanders-expenses-scandal-product-20563304


Eva Bolander's expenses scandal shows if you don't want your laundry aired in public then pay with your own cash

Darren McGarvey says that the Lord Provost's actions completely discredits the work of the unsung heroes of public service.

By Darren McGarvey - Daily Record

Lord Provost of Glasgow Eva Bolander was in the spotlight after her extravagant expenses were revealed by the Daily Record (Image: PA)

Let's forego the padded intro filled with underwear puns that would leave too many people’s knickers in a twist.

Instead, let’s cut to the chase: Glasgow’s Lord Provost, SNP councillor Eva Bolander, spent more than £8000 over two years kitting herself out in the best of gear – with public money.

I won’t be doing an itemised list of what she bought. This rant will be primarily focused on the notion of public service, as it is currently understood by politicians. Or should I say misunderstood?

Politicians can count themselves among some of the most privileged professionals in society.

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Glasgow's Lord Provost Eva Bolander urged to resign after £8000 expenses exposed

Despite their generous salaries, which always seem to rise while others stagnate, as well as their expense accounts, subsidised food, drink, accommodation and travel, they also get to trade, until the day they die, on the currency of being “public servants”.

For me, a public servant is someone who goes further than they have to, with no thought of reward. Janitors, community nurses, home helps and teaching assistants. Unsung heroes who give up their time to support others.

The sort of people who would be embarrassed to claim back money for so much as a paper clip, never mind a wardrobe courtesy of John “could I be any smugger” Lewis.

Public service, as a term, has never sat well with me where politicians are concerned, because to understand politics is to understand that many politicians are dedicated to serving one thing: themselves.

Glasgow’s Lord Provost Eva Bolander bought 23 pairs of shoes during £8000 spending spree at taxpayers' expense (Image: PA)

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Glasgow's Lord Provost apologises over £8000 expenses and vows to pay back cash

That said, I am also a great believer in the role environments play in shaping attitudes and behaviour. Bolander is a product of a political environment, perhaps the most dysfunctional environment in this society.

She, like every politician, became adjusted to the norms of the institution in which she worked. And few institutions course with a sense of entitlement quite like Glasgow City Council. This has been the case for decades – I’m looking at you Labour.

Women in public life must feel tremendous pressure to look a certain way. But so do nurses, teachers, single mums and homeless women – who have to pay for their own haircuts, often while fighting privileged politicians tooth and nail for basic human dignities.

I can understand the temptation someone might feel to go to extreme lengths where their public presentation is concerned. I just can’t think of any other profession outside politics where privileges such as the right to book pampering sessions are regarded not only as justified but a necessity.

SNP ultras on Twitter, who seem incapable of the intellectual bandwidth required to download a rational opinion on this issue, ought to apply for a Creative Scotland grant, given the levels of artistry they have demonstrated attempting to explain why an SNP politician is entitled to spend £152 of public money on underwear.

Every provost who preceded Bolander was afforded the same vulgar privileges. Over a decade ago, I was advised not to wear a mock Flava Flav clock at a poverty conference, in case it offended or embarrassed the guy with a solid gold ceremonial chain around his neck (the lord provost) who came to talk to us all about social inequality.

This isn’t about Bolander personally. Nor is it about the SNP. This is about the very principle that, simply by virtue of deciding to get into politics, you should be entitled to any more than someone who decides to get into teaching or nursing or bin collecting.

Few things are more personal in life than your underwear. So if you don’t want your laundry aired out in public, you could start by paying for it with your own money.