With Labour Leader Joe Fagan suspended, the SNP Group at South Lanarkshire say that his twice-censured Deputy, Gerry Convery, should not be allowed to step into the role.
Mr Convery was infamously censured in 2019 for uttering a Nazi slogan during a public meeting of the Council in April 2018.
Commenting, Depute Leader of the SNP Group Maureen Chalmers said;
“Gerry Convery was quoted in the press claiming those of us who called out his disgraceful behaviour were ‘trying to make a mountain out of a molehill’. Similarly, Joe Fagan was quoted after his own sanction saying his “conscience is clear”. South Lanarkshire Labour clearly don’t think the rules apply to them.
“At Cllr Convery’s hearing, his comments were described as ‘offensive, unnecessary and demeaning’ and ‘egregious and disrespectful’ – I completely agree with this characterisation. At the time, our SNP group called for the Labour Party and his group to take action, and this was simply ignored.
“Unbelievably, Cllr Convery was censured again one year later for failing to declare a personal interest in a Council decision.
“The people of South Lanarkshire deserve better than one rule-breaker standing in for another. My Group do not think Cllr Convery is any more fit to lead than his boss, he should also step aside.”
Cllr Cal Johnston-Dempsey 