Tributes paid to Glasgow councillor John Kelly

Councillor John Kelly - Glasgow City Council

Tributes have been paid to Labour councillor John Kelly, who died this week.

Kelly had represented the Garscadden and Scotstounhill ward on Glasgow City Council since 2012.

He was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in January.

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Leader of Glasgow City Council Frank McAveety said: "There will be a deep sadness in the Labour movement in Scotland today, and for some long time to come, about the passing of Councillor John Kelly.

“John was only elected to Glasgow City Council in 2012 yet with his quiet diligence he made his mark, particularly in his contribution to the council’s adoption of its living wage policy.

“All John’s life as a trade union official was spent trying to improve the lot of his fellow workers and that of the less fortunate in general.

“John bore the standing and dignity of a man steadfast in his conviction that the world should be a better place. He will be missed. Sorely missed."

Kelly was also a longstanding member of the CWU. He was the union’s Glasgow and Motherwell assistant branch secretary and political officer.

CWU deputy general secretary (telecoms) Andy Kerr paid tribute to his commitment to working people.

He said: “John not only represented workers as a union rep, his great passion was politics and, as a committed socialist, he fought tirelessly for working class people particularly throughout Glasgow.”

Kerr called Kelly’s death a “sad loss to the trade union and labour movement”.

Former Glasgow Labour MP and MSP Margaret Curran tweeted: “Heartbroken at loss of my friend. Stood out for his decency & kindness. Big loss to labour family. Will miss him so much”.