Former Glasgow council leader charged with fraud

Former leader of Glasgow City Council, and ex-Scottish Government minister, Frank McAveety has been arrested and charged with fraud offences.

Mr McAveety was questioned in connection with offences said to have taken place between 2022 and 2024.

It has been widely reported that the charges relate to address details on electoral paperwork when he was standing for election to the City Council in 2022.

On Monday he stepped down as business manager for the Labour group after earlier leaving his post as the convener of a financial scrutiny committee.

Political comebacks

The 62-year-old former teacher served as leader of a Labour-run administration at the City Chambers between 1997 and 1999 and again in 2015-17,

For twelve years in between he served as the MSP for Glasgow Shettleston from 1999 to 2011, and held a number of junior ministerial posts under Jack McConnell's coalition government.

A Police Scotland statement said: "A 62-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with fraud offences in the Glasgow area between 2022 and 2024.

"A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal in due course."

Scottish Labour has been contacted for comment.

Glasgow City Council said it was unable to comment.

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• Frank McAveety