An overhaul of Glasgow City Council’s online communications operation is to be led by former BBC political journalist John Morrison, it has been confirmed.
It was revealed in April that he was in the frame for the contract, along with five other bidders.
It was claimed at the time that council leader Frank McAveety was attempting to “shore up” public relations at the local authority after former director of communications, Colin Edgar, was moved to a new role at arm’s length organisation Glasgow Life.
Leader of the SNP group at Glasgow City Council, Susan Aitken, said: “It would appear that Frank McAveety is considering shoring things up in an attempt to save his political skin at a time when staff working in frontline services are looking at significant post reductions.”
A council spokesman insisted the contract was part of the chief executive’s review of council communications.
Mr Morrison, who runs a Glasgow-based public relations company, will provide “independent analysis” of the local authority’s digital presence – which includes profiles on Twitter and Facebook.
He said he is “delighted to be doing the job” and has “already started doing interviews”.
The project will see Mr Morrison develop “a modern communications strategy” for Glasgow City Council.
“Nowadays, we all expect to be able to deal directly with the organisations and companies that provide our services,” he added. “Morrison Media Strategies will be advising the council on how to have better conversations with the people of Glasgow.”
The former journalist also rejected a claim by a council insider who described him as a “Labour old boy”.
“Every word in the description is wrong,” said Mr Morrison. “I am not Labour, I am not old but neither am I a boy. I have never been a member of any political party.”
A council spokesman said: “Morrison Media Strategies is carrying out a short-term piece of consultancy work to help us develop a new communications strategy.”
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