SUSAN Aitken has survived a challenge as SNP group leader and therefore leader of Glasgow City Council.
Aitken, the first SNP council leader in the city, narrowly saw off a challenge at the group AGM by city treasurer Allan Gow to be re-elected leader by SNP councillors by 19 votes to 17. David McDonald was re-elected depute leader.
Aitken has been SNP Group leader since 2014 when Graeme Hendry stood down. She led the party into the 2017 council elections at which the SNP become the largest party, removing Labour from office for the first time in decades. Since 2017, Aitken has led a minority SNP administration at the council. Gow said Aitken, who has been leader for three years, had done some “fantastic things” but said he wanted to offer the SNP group a “change of direction”. He said: “The group has made its decision and it’s now about focusing on delivering what we said we would.”
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Gow appeared to rule out further challenges stating: “It’s not some stalking game. The vote has endorsed her position.”
He added: “In terms of my position, you put it to the group and they make their decision. It is a matter for the leadership who they want to appoint. There are a lot of talented people in the group.
He said he would “understand” Aitken might feel the need to refresh her team following the vote. However, he added that the leader, the council and the city all have more important matters to deal with at the moment. Aitken said: “I am delighted to have been chosen by the SNP group to continue as leader and push forward with transforming Glasgow.
“We have a very willing, able and talented group of councillors that I am proud to lead and who are delivering the change Glasgow voted for.
“It is essential we do not lose sight of our job as SNP councillors, helping build better lives for Glaswegians.
“That’s more important than ever as we now enter into an incredibly challenging period when the whole city will need to pull together to protect the vulnerable.”
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