GLASGOW'S city treasurer has backed calls for Labour to cover the cost of a by-election which could be needed after the party’s “complete cock-up”.
Mary McNab was elected to represent Labour in the North East ward last month but was almost immediately disqualified after failing to quit her council job.
While Glasgow City Council is seeking a legal ruling on its position, it has been estimated a second by-election in the ward could cost £80,000.
However, including legal fees – as McNab's case is understood to be a UK first – the SNP have estimated the cost at closer to £200,000.
Councillor Ricky Bell, SNP, the city treasurer, said he was in favour of Labour colleagues putting “their hand in their pocket to come up with the cost” rather than taxpayers covering the bill.
Labour has claimed it is not solely to blame for the error, with Glasgow group leader George Redmond saying McNab did “everything correctly”.
A council spokesperson previously said all candidates had received guidance from its elections team and the rules were made “explicit”.
At a full council meeting on Thursday, Bailie Anthony Carroll, Greens, asked how much a second by-election in the ward would cost.
Bell said the council had sought legal advice “given the unprecedented nature of what has occurred”, so he is “restricted in what I can say about Labour’s complete cock-up” while proceedings are active.
He added: “However, we know that the cost of the Hillhead by-election earlier this year was £80,000 and would anticipate the cost of a single by-election in this ward would be around the same cost.
“This does not factor in the wider cost of legal advice and counsel that are being required through future proceedings.”
He was asked by Christina Cannon, SNP, who should pay for another by-election, the “council and Glasgow taxpayers or the Labour Party who made this mess in the first place?”.
In response, Bell said: “Anything that avoids the council taxpayers of Glasgow having to pay for someone else’s screw up, I would be very much in favour of and so therefore would request Labour colleagues put their hand in their pocket and come up with the cost.
“It does seem grossly unfair that because of other people’s incompetence and inability to read the rules that we are faced with this bill.”
Greg Hepburn, SNP, city convener for open government, said the mistake would have other implications too, if another by-election is required.
He said: “That’s parents, that’s kids that have their days disrupted, they have their education disrupted."
McNab failed to follow legislation which meant she needed to stand down from her council job on the next working day after her election.
