Liberal Democrat comment on Standards Commission decision on the South Lanarkshire Council Leader

Commenting on the suspension of the Leader of the Council, South Lanarkshire Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr Robert Brown said:

“I have a lot of time for Joe Fagan who is an extremely hardworking and serious Councillor and Council Leader of considerable ability and integrity. The Standards Commission criticised his action on one specific occasion during the last Council where there had been a number of controversies relating to how the then SNP Administration had dealt with the Leisure Trust.

To be honest, I am disappointed that the SNP are so focused on making complaints like this, and, even more so, at their overblown theatrics since the decision. It has an element of the playground about it. This at a time when central government cuts are hammering local services, and our communities need councillors of substance arguing for their residents.

Following last year’s elections, Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors put our differences aside to put our residents first. We will continue to behave like grown-ups and work across party lines as a strong, progressive and effective partnership administration that's focused on protecting our communities.”