Council leader accused of betrayal over parades

Senior reporter

Saturday 19 May 2012

THE leader of Glasgow City Council has beeen accused of performing a U-turn on his views on marches and betraying constituents amid mounting pressure to go public with his views on parades.

U-TURN: Council leader Gordon Matheson is under pressure to clarify his position on marches.

Custom byline text:

GERRY BRAIDEN

The Herald revealed last week that Gordon Matheson told a meeting of more than 100 members of the Orange Order that the authority's policy on limiting the number and routes of parades was wrong and would be reviewed.

Two key areas where the landmark policy is being examined for change are allowing more processions and demonstrations through the city centre and altering times to allow religious and political parades to play music earlier and later.But representatives from Mr Matheson's own city centre ward said his claims to the Orange Order on the policy's flaws fly in the face of support he has routinely given to them for further restrictions to parades.Meanwhile, Glasgow SNP MSP Humza Yousaf has written to Mr Matheson demanding to know how many members of the Labour administration and council officials have met with the Orange Order and other marchers during the last council term and what was discussed.Mr Yousaf has also asked the council leader to spell out what he thinks is wrong with the policy. Mr Matheson was greeted with applause from Orange Order members at the pre- election hustings when he told them he would "hold his hands up" and admit his authority's groundbreaking approach to reducing marches in the city was flawed.But the body that represents rank-and-file Scottish police officers said encouraging more parades was "perverse", while Mr Matheson has subsequently been accused of pandering to militant unionism for the sake of re-election.However, others believe the council leader would have risked being ousted by the electorate had his comments been made public before the election.Anne Keay, who helped set up the Merchant City Community Council with Mr Matheson more than a decade ago, said: "Gordon Matheson has changed his stance and I feel enormously let down. He has continually given the impression at our meetings that he is in favour of reducing marches through the city centre and re-routing them."In his letter To Mr Matheson, Mr Yousaf said: "Can you clarify which part of the policy is, in your opinion, flawed and in need of review?" He added: "Can you confirm how many meetings you or indeed any Glasgow City Council officials have had with Orange Order groups during the last council session and what was discussed?"The policy was introduced 18 months ago and was aimed at reducing marches through the city centre and the duration of each march amid concerns over the impact on public resources, businesses and communities. Although the council says it has a mechanism for an annual review, the policy has not yet been reviewed.The council has also repeatedly hailed its revised approach to parades as a success, with almost all disputes with march organisers resolved before events, while Strathclyde Police have held it up as a template for other authorities. In a letter to several individuals who have contacted him about parades, Mr Matheson said: "This review is being worked on at the moment by council officers and will incorporate the views of Strathclyde Police and a range of procession organisers. "While I am, of course, committed to a review of our policy, let me assure you that no decisions have been taken to alter the current position, nor have I ever sought to encourage an increase in the number of processions."

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Council leader accused of betrayal over parades

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