Gordon Matheson to quit as council leader

Gordon Matheson will stand down as leader of Glasgow City Council next month.

The Labour councillor, who has run Scotland’s largest council for the last five years, will step down on Thursday 10 September with a new leader appointed on the same day.

Matheson was last week unsuccessful in his bid to become Scottish Labour deputy leader, with Fife MSP Alex Rowley landing the post instead.

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However, he confirmed to Holyrood in June that he will seek election to the Scottish Parliament next May.

Matheson said he was “ready to pass the baton” on to a new leader.

"The decision I have announced today was made by me some weeks ago,” he said. “By confirming the date, the process can begin to effect a smooth transition to a new leader in time for the next meeting of the full council."

"Being leader of the city I love has been the greatest honour of my life. It is not a job for the faint hearted, especially given the budget cuts we have had to contend with, but I would not have missed this experience for the world."

Matheson was first elected to Glasgow City Council in 1999 and plans to remain as ward councillor for Anderston/City, but won’t stand again in the 2017 council elections.

Labour has suffered a number of setbacks in Glasgow recently, not least the city voting yes in the independence referendum and then losing every one of its MPs in the city in May’s General Election.

Matheson added: "One of the judgements of politics is to know when to move on. The time is right for me to consolidate the successes I have enjoyed in Glasgow in recent years and progress to the next phase in my career.

"Glasgow is Scotland's big success story. There is a buzz about this city. We have a great international reputation following the delivery of the best ever Commonwealth Games.

“Our population is growing again and educational attainment in the city is improving every year".