New Glasgow council chief George Redmond has insisted a household medical emergency in Seville compelled him to overlook his flight residence from Rangers Europa League last defeat.
Labour's Cllr Redmond joined the primary council assembly of the brand new time period remotely, which means he wasn’t within the metropolis chambers regardless of being put ahead for council chief – a vote he misplaced to SNP Cllr Susan Aitken by 46 votes to 35.
After the assembly the SNP stated that Cllr Redmond, who was solely elected as Labour group chief on Monday, had proven “his obligations to his constituents, to his group and to the town are ditched the moment he has a greater provide”.
Cllr Redmond was in Seville for the Europa League last, which Rangers misplaced on penalties to Eintracht Frankfurt. And he stated he missed his connection attributable to a household medical emergency within the stadium, understood to have been attributable to the acute warmth throughout the match.
He stated: “No person is extra dissatisfied than me that I needed to miss this primary assembly. The life of somebody in public service usually means you don’t put your loved ones first, I had no alternative. I’ve obtained a duty in a scenario like that.”
It's understood the Labour group was informed yesterday that the chief had a “prior engagement” however he was anticipated to attend the total council assembly in particular person in the present day.
Cllr Redmond did handle to dial in to the assembly to vote, however councillors reported listening to noise from the airport within the background of his name.
An SNP supply stated: “There had been a lot of hearsay since Tuesday that Cllr Redmond wouldn’t be on the assembly in the present day. He’s an enormous Rangers fan and nobody was shocked to listen to him dialling into the assembly from what sounded to everybody like an airport.
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“There have been unmistakable tannoy bulletins within the background.
"You’d assume three days after he totally ruptures his group and the day he makes his bid to develop into council chief he’d prioritise exhibiting up.
"Clearly George has different priorities. Which received’t shock anybody.”
The Calton consultant, who has returned to the town chambers after 5 years out, was elected as Labour group chief on Monday after difficult Cllr Malcolm Crafty.
And Glasgow Labour’s enterprise supervisor Frank McAveety stated Cllr Redmond had “an obligation of care” as a member of the family wanted remedy, and added: “Anybody who tries to assault him must be ashamed of themselves.”
An SNP spokesman stated: “George Redmond in the present day publicly introduced his intention to be chief of this nice metropolis but can’t even be bothered to show as much as the precise assembly the place the voting takes place.
“Simply three days after he break up Glasgow Labour in two in his quest to develop into chief, he’s clearly obtained different priorities.
"Cllr Redmond’s resolution to be someplace relatively than this significant assembly exhibits his obligations to his constituents, to his group and to the town of Glasgow are ditched the moment he has a greater provide.”