12.09.17
Council leader cleared of corruption charges by police
The leader of a Scottish council has been cleared of corruption charges in what he described was a “failed smear attempt” and a waste of police time.
Cllr Jim Logue, who heads North Lanarkshire Council, was cleared of any wrongdoing as part of a Police Scotland investigation into allegations of corruption in council procurement. He was reported last month after revelations that he used to be the director of two unregistered council subsidiary companies.
After the police confirmed this week that no criminality had been established, Cllr Logue said in a statement that the whole episode had been a waste of time for both officers and the local authority.
“In my view, the police should consider the extent to which their valuable time and resources have been wasted by the people behind this farce,” he added.
“I have been a councillor for 40 years. 30 years ago I put my political prospects on the line to expose wrongdoing by members of my own party in Monklands District Council. Last year, I ensured there was a proper investigation into allegations of corruption in procurement based on anonymous but credible allegations, something other politicians would be extremely cautious about doing.”
The council leader guaranteed that anyone who “knows me and the way I go about my business” would agree that he would “never be involved in fraud or corruption of any kind”.
“This whole episode has been a failed smear attempt,” Cllr Logue argued.
“But the people who are complicit in that smear attempt should know this: I will never be diverted from my role in leading a forward-thinking council which achieves, and will continue to achieve, great things for the communities of North Lanarkshire.”
The leader had resisted calls from SNP councillors to stand down while the investigation was ongoing, a request he dismissed as “nonsensical”.
(Top image: Motherwell Civic Centre c. Ross Watson, Geograph.org.uk)