A COUNCILLOR has been ordered to remove his car from the parking spot he has used for several years after being told it was in breach of electoral rules.

The SNP's David Turner, whose car is emblazoned with his party's logo, was told he was breaking policy around campaigning and instructed to park away from the immediate vicinity of Glasgow City Chambers.

Mr Turner has used the spot on John Street at the rear of the Chambers since 2012, which sits immediately outside the council's election unit.

Despite claims the demand to shift followed a complaint from a party political rival, this has been denied, one council source claiming: "You can't not notice this car."

However, had Mr Turner, who represents a ward in the east of the city, limited his display of party loyalty to just one sticker he would have been within the authority's rules on political promotions at election time.

The Electoral Commission said the parking of party paraphernalia-festooned vehicles in the vicinity of local government headquarters was not something it had any rules on, claiming it was most likely the council's own policy.

The authority said that as the car was stationed outside what would become a polling station during a forthcoming council by-election there was an added reason for it to be parked elsewhere.

Mr Turner said: "We received an email telling us not to park vehicles promoting parties because it breached purdah last week but I couldn't get into a nearby carpark and went back to the spot I've been using for about four years. But then one of my colleagues, not me, gets a call telling him I have to move my car.

"This seems to have been an issue since the Referendum when there were complaints about Yes stickers.

"I can understand this being an issue the week before an election but I've still got committee meetings to attend and other council work to do."

But a council source said: "We're not talking a bumper sticker here. The car is covered in SNP stuff and seems a deliberate attempt to use a permanent spot for Cllr Turner to advertise for his party.

"It's outside the election offices where there's going to be a continual coming and going of people associated with all parties and that leads to complaints. The advice was given to everyone, rather than one individual. Although this issue has been mentioned before ahead of previous polls."

It is not the first time Mr Turner's car has hit the headlines. Earlier this year it was snapped by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon driving along a motorway from her own vehicle.

Ms Sturgeon posted the photograph onto her Twitter account with the caption "Hope this guy's a careful driver!", with the tweet going viral.

A spokesman said: “Like officials, elected members are given advice on the council’s obligations during a pre-election period.

“The City Chambers sits within the Anderston/City ward, for which a by-election will be contested on May 5.”