Glasgow City Council has been urged to drop legal proceedings against a group of campaigning parents, which could leave one individual in financial ruin. Leanne McGuire, former chairwoman of Glasgow City Parents Group (GCPG), faces a personal demand for more than £42,000 in costs after a failed judicial review of the council's annual budget.
Background of the Campaign
The GCPG campaigned against now-abandoned plans to cut hundreds of teaching posts across Glasgow. A budget deal between the SNP and Greens in 2024 would have axed around 450 teaching positions. The group organized a protest march through the city center and launched a legal action, which was not allowed to proceed by a judge. However, the council had already spent tens of thousands of pounds on legal fees, which it now seeks to recoup.
Political Reactions
Councillor Rashid Hussain, leader of the Scottish Labour group in Glasgow, called on the SNP-run administration to drop the action. He said: "Parents and carers stood up for Glasgow’s children when the SNP wanted to cut hundreds of teaching posts. They organised, campaigned and made their voices heard. In the end, the SNP backed down. It is therefore extraordinary that the same parents who fought to protect education are now facing legal action and the prospect of tens of thousands of pounds in costs." Hussain added: "The SNP should be thanking them, not threatening them with financial ruin."
Personal Impact on Leanne McGuire
McGuire, a mum-of-one and former recipient of the British Empire Medal for her work with parents, told the Record: "I received a Sheriff's letter on Thursday out of the blue. There has been no negotiation between the council and my lawyers. I think the bigger point is - what does this action say to civic participation in general? I did this role in a voluntary capacity, encouraged by the council. And now this has happened. Is this going to deter people from stepping forward? I don't regret the campaign. I thought I was doing the right thing for the children of Glasgow."
Council's Position
A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: "Public funds that could otherwise have been used to support vital council services were spent defending this petition, which the court refused permission to allow to proceed after finding it had no realistic prospect of success. It is standard practice in such cases to seek to recover costs from the unsuccessful party. Our legal team has remained in contact with the petitioners' solicitors and steps are being taken to recoup these expenses."
