Glasgow City Councillor Mary McNab has formally resigned following her disqualification, ending the legal dispute between her and the council. This unprecedented situation has led to the scheduling of another by-election for the Glasgow North East ward, just five months after the last vote.
The turmoil began after McNab was elected during the Glasgow North East by-election held on November 22. Just minutes after winning her seat, it was revealed she had not officially resigned from her previous role within the local authority, as mandated by the Local Government Scotland Act. This law requires elected council employees to submit their resignation within one working day of the election.
Despite winning her election shortly after midnight, McNab failed to hand in her resignation by the deadline of November 25. Concerns arose due to her prior agreement for early retirement, which she feared jeopardizing if she resigned. "This process has been an insult to local democracy," stated the Scottish Labour spokesperson, who condemned the handling of the situation by Glasgow City Council. They criticized the council’s approach to what they termed an "administrative error" and emphasized their commitment to fight for representation during the upcoming by-election.
Legal advice sought by the council revealed the lack of precedent for McNab’s case—being the first known incident of an elected councillor also employed by the council failing to resign post-election. The council applied to Sheriff Principal Aisha Anwar to get official clarification or a declarator for McNab’s disqualification. But after discussions, McNab accepted her position and resigned on the morning of February 1, thereby dismissing the need for court proceedings.
Council representatives expressed relief at resolving the situation without incurring additional costs or prolonged court battles. "We are pleased this has been resolved without the need to spend time in court. The law in this area is largely untested, but it was clear the successful candidate was not entitled to take up her seat as she was disqualified," said the Glasgow City Council spokesperson. They noted the unusual nature of the situation but defended their actions throughout.
Nonetheless, criticism from the Scottish National Party (SNP) was sharp, asserting blame squarely on Labour for not adhering to established electoral procedures. An SNP spokesperson remarked, "The only people responsible for this mess... are the Scottish Labour Party who were unable to follow the simple instructions... about rules... for many years. Instead of continuing to blame everyone else for their failures, they should be apologising to the people of the North East for the disrespect they have shown them."
The council will now prepare for the second by-election for the North East ward within less than six months. This serves as a reminder of the importance of compliance with electoral laws and the potential consequences of oversights from candidates and their parties.
Looking forward, the political parties involved will likely strategize anew as they prepare to regain the confidence of voters who are beginning to feel the impact of such political missteps. The outcome of this by-election may hold significant weight, reflecting broader sentiments about local governance and accountability.
Overall, the resolution to McNab’s case provides clarity amid uncertainty and sets the stage for what local political dynamics will look like moving forward as parties aim to mend the public trust and minimize similar occurrences.