John McCalman, Municipal Correspondent
GLASGOW'S former Labour leader, Councillor Robert Gould, has been advised he should not attend any more meetings of the city's Labour Group executive despite the lifting of his suspension by the Labour Party, writes John McCalman, Municipal Correspondent.
There were raised eyebrows at a meeting of the group executive earlier this week when the former leader, who triggered the city's ''votes for trips scandal'', put in an appearance. Embarrassed senior councillors permitted him to stay and he was even allowed to vote when the execitive found itself divided on one of its agenda items.
Afterwards, Councillor Gould said he had been under the impression that the lifting of his suspension meant that ''things were back to normal.'' However, in Councillor Gould's case, normal meant that he owed his place on the executive to his former position as Labour Group leader - the job he lost in the wake of the Labour Party inquiry into the city's civic crisis last year.
His place was taken last October by Councillor Frank McAveety whose position has been guaranteed by the Labour Party until the council elections on May 1999. The position of the new deputy leader, Councillor Charles Gordon, was similarly guaranteed.
A group insider explained that the instructions of the party - guaranteeing the new leadership positions, then later lifting Councillor Gould's suspension - had been contractictory. However, the situation could be resolved by a long-delayed group annual general meeting next month at which Councillor Gould may stand for a place on the executive.
The Labour Party was forced to lift the suspensions after Lord Provost Patrick Lally and his depute, Bailie Alex Mosson, were granted a judicial review by the Court of Session.
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