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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Joe Sullivan

SNP councillors apologise after triggering alarm by going to city hall to sleep

TWO SNP councillors have apologised after setting off alarms in their city chambers while returning there to sleep, according to reports.

Sean Ferguson and Malcolm Mitchell, both Glasgow councillors, were let in to the building by duty staff past midnight last week after failing to get taxis home.

While they were inside, an exterior door was opened, triggering an emergency alarm and leading to a call-out to reset the alarm.

The pair have agreed to reimburse the council if the call-out incurred any costs, according to the Daily Record.

A council spokesperson said building managers had spoken to the councillors and told them returning to the building "was not appropriate".

Frank McAveety, former Labour Glasgow council leader, said that members were required to vacate the chambers by 9pm, unless attending a function on site.

He continued, saying: “This is clearly a serious breach of security which compromises the safety of staff."

A Glasgow SNP group spokesperson said: "Councillors Ferguson and Mitchell have been spoken to and reminded of the guidance around access to the building."

They went on to say that the members had apologised.

Mitchell, councillor for Garscadden and Scotstounhill slammed Glasgow Labour in May for reversing on their manifesto commitment to implement a LEZ in the city after they called for it to be delayed by a year.

He said: “Labour promised to deliver LEZ in their manifesto.

“They also voted for it at committee. Now they do a 180 a few days before it's introduced."

In March, Ferguson, the councillor for Newlands and Auldburn, called for a permanent monument to Glasgow-born socialist politician John Maclean to be established in the city.

Ferguson told the Glasgow Times: “It’s entirely appropriate that he be remembered in the city in which he played such an important part. I want to see the City Council take a lead on this.

"Right now, it’s up for discussion how we do that. But it is entirely fitting that he should be remembered in the neighbourhood where he was born and died and where the ongoing regeneration work gives us an opportunity to do just that."

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