Glasgow's Lord Provost officially stands down

Glasgow's Lord Provost has officially stood down.

Eva Bolander made the announcement at a full council meeting. It follows a row over her expenses last month, it emerged she'd spent thousands on new shoes, dresses and hair cuts.

She had apologised and offered to pay back some of the cash - but the SNP group voted against her last night despite her previously having the support of Leader Susan Aitken and the First Minister

At a meeting of SNP councillors on Wednesday, the majority voted in favour of her resignation.

The expenses date from May 2017 to August 2019, and included receipts for make-up, pedicures, six jackets and five coats.

In a letter to her Glasgow City Council colleagues, Ms Bolander said expense claims for each of the 150 items were "made in good faith and scrupulously accounted for'', adding that none of the charges broke council rules.

She wrote: "Although the spending incurred was within the rules, on reflection, there are items which I should not have chosen to reclaim.

"I am sorry about that and I am in discussion with financial services to come to an arrangement to repay the relevant expenditure.''

Speaking to Clyde News, Conservative councillor Thomas Kerr said: "The people of Glasgow have lost trust in this Lord Provost, and it's about time that she did go.

"I called for this weeks ago, that the Lord Provost should consider her post.

"I think it is for the best of this city."

The issue was also raised at First Minister's Questions in Holyrood when Conservative MSP Adam Tomkins argued Ms Bolander had "ripped off the people of Glasgow''.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said her SNP colleague Ms Bolander was an "excellent Lord Provost'' but was "absolutely right'' to reflect on her expenses claims and had made the "right decision'' that some should not have been made.

She said: “This past two-and-a-half years have been among the proudest of my life.

“It has always been recognised that the role as Lord Provost carries an additional cost as it takes place almost entirely in the public eye.

“It is for this reason the civic allowance set by the Scottish Government is in place, it ensures that the rule of first citizen is open to any elected member in the chamber and especially anyone who hasn't got the resources to do so.

“My spending incurred was within the rules and guidance, however on reflection there are items that I should have chosen to not reclaim, and for that I apologise unreservedly to my colleagues across the chamber and especially to the people of Glasgow.

“I'm grateful for having been given the opportunity to represent Glasgow and all its communities and people, but it is with the city's best interests at heart that I am resigning with effect from after this statement.

“Glasgow is a fantastic city, it is a city emerging on a global scale, and I'm proud to have played a small part of that.

“I will continue to represent my constituents and to work for the best for them and to work for the best for Glasgow and to work for the best for Scotland.''

Earlier this month, Ms Bolander apologised and said she would repay the money for some items, but did not specify which.

The expenses date from May 2017 to August 2019, and included receipts for make-up, pedicures, six jackets and five coats.

Deputy Lord Provost Philip Braat will take over until Ms Bolander's replacement is elected.

Speaking at the council meeting, he said: “We thank Councillor Bolander for her work and her service over the past two-and-a-half years.

“I have seen at first-hand that the role of Lord Provost is not always an easy one, but Councillor Bolander has served the city well while in post.

“Also as her colleague I have seen at first-hand the work that Councillor Bolander has done in serving her constituents in the Anderston/City/Yorkhill ward.

“I know that she will continue to deliver for the constituents."

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