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GLASGOW Labour have involved the police after confidential WhatsApps were leaked to The National.
Messages sent to The National were from a private Glasgow Labour group chat and detailed frustration from councillors ahead of the two by-elections in the city earlier this month.
The SNP won both Glasgow seats from Scottish Labour after votes were counted on March 21, including the North East Ward – which was won by Labour late last year, only for their candidate to be disqualified for not resigning her job on the council.
“When I email HQ asking who the [North East] candidate is I get no reply,” someone called Sharon complained in a message weeks before the vote.
“Me, I am on the back foot with it all. So to be honest I have decided to just go with the flow. Games a bogie!”
The only Labour councillor by that name in Glasgow is Bailie Sharon Greer.
Fellow Glasgow Labour councillor Elaine McDougall then responded: “It’s awful, we already have an uphill struggle as it is.”
But now, according to minutes from a Glasgow Labour meeting on Monday this week – which The National has been told were left behind in the chamber – the matter has also been reported to the police.
“Bailie Jenkins addressed the serious issue of the leak from the private WhatsApp group to The National newspaper,” it read.
“Members in attendance expressed deep frustration over the break of trust.”
The document also detailed how McDougall had apparently “reported the matter to the police” – saying that the disclosure of personal phone numbers is “completely unacceptable”.
According to the minutes, she apparently also stressed that such actions are a “severe violation of confidentiality”.
Police Scotland have been approached for comment.
The anonymous source who leaked the screenshot to The National said that the group are “up the creek”.
“[Group leader George Redmond] does not appear to be taking an interest. Colleagues are disheartened and feel abandoned,” they said at the time.
The source also told us of a meeting in February in which leader Redmond reportedly refused to take a budget briefing from a senior city building officer because the officer was running late in a scene that looked like it was “fresh out of The Sopranos”.
“The embarrassment was palpable,” they added.
“There was no briefing available to Labour councillors on the city building budget because of this. Shocking.
"The irate leader raved about 'disrespect' in a scene that looked like it was fresh out of the Sopranos.
"He sent the officer away without even allowing him to access the room full of waiting Labour councillors and we all proceeded to awkwardly talk amongst ourselves for the following 40 minutes."
It is understood that group members have been airing “serious concerns” about the leadership, with the chief executive of the council apparently only invited to meet with the group a year after she took up the post – in contrast to other parties, who it is understood held meetings within a month.
It was also claimed that several by-elections have been very poorly managed, leading to “resentment at the stress this has caused”.
The source added: “This new leadership promised a strong vision and direction for the group. These promises … are but distant memories now.
"Ripping itself apart and putting its factional interests ahead of those of the city," he said.
“The fact that Labour Group members are now breaking rank tells us the knives are out for their leader George Redmond, and that whoever Anas Sarwar installs next as group leader has a job keeping the sack of ferrets in line.
“Meanwhile, the SNP is getting on with what really matters, responding to the needs of Glaswegians and Scotland.”
A Glasgow Labour spokesperson said: “The SNP has been failing the people of Glasgow for too long, leaving local services at breaking point and local businesses struggling.
"Labour is working to deliver for this fantastic city and give it the champions it deserves."
