Glasgow City Council meeting ends with row between Labour and SNP councillors

A heated council meeting ended in a row as an SNP councillor accused of telling opposition members to “shut up” said Labour could “address it with me outside”.

Labour councillor Frank McAveety tried to raise a point of order about the “conduct” of Glasgow’s full council meeting as it came to an end.

He said he had “distinctly heard” SNP councillor Graham Campbell “shout across the chamber and tell other members of this chamber to ‘shut up’”.

“No action was taken,” he added. “Could you give us guidance and advice on how that matter can be addressed?”

In response, councillor Campbell said: “You can address it with me outside.”

Addressing the Lord Provost, councillor McAveety said: “Someone in the chamber today, making a remark that seems to me quite challenging.”

He added the “conduct was unacceptable”.

The Lord Provost, Jacqueline McLaren, had told cllr McAveety that the meeting was finished and to “speak to the business managers about it”.

After the meeting, the Labour group said cllr Campbell had told female councillors to “shut up” and the Lord Provost had refused to hear a point of order.

Astonishing to hear threats being made to me by an SNP Councillor Graham Campbell in today's Full Council meeting. The failure to intervene by the Lord Provost to protect members who had been shouted at by Cllr Campbell was unacceptable. We will be taking these matters further.
— Frank McAveety (@FMcAveety) March 30, 2023

Cllr McAveety, Labour’s business manager, said: “The failure to intervene by the Lord Provost to protect members who had been shouted at by councillor Campbell was unacceptable.

“Glasgow Labour will be taking these matters further.”

Responding to cllr McAveety on social media, cllr Campbell said: “Frank, even for you, this is really scraping a very empty barrel.

“The meeting had already ended and I gave you the chance to discuss your concerns with me. Can’t think why you’d think a Black man trying to reason is somehow a threat — especially given your own behaviour in chambers.”

Frank even for you, this is really scraping a very empty barrel. The meeting had already ended & I gave you the chance to discuss your concerns with me. Can’t think why you’d think a Black man trying to reason is somehow a threat – especially given your own behaviour in chambers.
— Cllr Graham Campbell🇺🇦@SNP_socialists (@CeeGraham1) March 30, 2023