A petty row broke out during a Renfrewshire council meeting after elected members were controversially seen displaying political statements on a video conference call.
Labour group leader Eddie Devine and his fellow councillor Jim Sharkey both had the words "The SNP have implemented £936million of cuts to local authorities since 2010” as their backgrounds during the latest virtual meeting of the full council, which involved members setting the budget for the coming year.
SNP councillor Kenny MacLaren also said in the chat box he had a party political background behind him on his screen.
The council's lawyer Ken Graham warned elected members the local authority could be seen as being in breach of a section of the Local Government Act (LGA) 1986 by displaying such statements publicly and Provost Lorraine Cameron requested they be removed.
The conversation then escalated into a squabble, as Councillor Devine accused Provost Cameron of being "unfair" when SNP members had had party backgrounds up in previous meetings.
Provost Cameron said during the meeting: "Some councillors have political statements as their backgrounds today and I would like to request they remove them please. I’m happy to bring in Ken [Graham] to refer you to the legal position of the council."
Mr Graham then explained the council could be seen to be breaching section 2.1 of the LGA which states " a local authority shall not publish or arrange for the publication of any material which in whole or in part appears to design to affect public support for a political party."
Councillor Devine then said: "What I’d like to know from the council lawyer is why then you were allowed 'vote SNP' [as a background] several months ago? You [the Provost] said to one of your own councillors you had no problem with the background he had up and now Ken has come on here and told us you have a problem with the background we have up.
"I’d like Ken as a lawyer to explain to me the difference between then and now."
He added after the meeting: "I think the Provost has been unfair to myself and other councillors."
Last year, Councillor Carolann Davidson had complained about an SNP background Councillor MacLaren had displayed during a meeting, which led to a spat at the time.
Provost Cameron said she wished to "draw a line" under the continuing debate.
She said in response to Councillor Devine: "It’s not just the SNP that’s had political things up in the past Eddie, your party has too. I want to draw a line under this today and I am asking you to take Ken’s advice. It’s up to you if you do or you don’t.
"I’m not going to enter into an argument with you. You’ve not taken it down, I’m moving on."
Councillor Devine eventually removed the statement but continued to display a Scottish Labour background for the remainder of the meeting, while Councillor Sharkey took his down altogether.
Councillor Sharkey said after the meeting: "The background I had was to point out - because it was a budget meeting - the cuts the SNP have made.
"I think they [the administration] are hypocritical to criticise anyone for taking the same actions they have. They have displayed the same signs in the past without any comment."
Councillor MacLaren added: "At one of the earlier council meetings I used a background which was yellow with my name, ward, party and an SNP logo on it. I don't think it was inappropriate for viewers to see which councillor was speaking and which ward and party they represent."
Council leader Iain Nicolson, who also heads up the SNP group, said: "The first backdrop which started to be used to express a political preference appeared with a member of the Labour group using a picture of Keir Hardie [a founder of the Labour party].
"The Provost allowed a bit of latitude as they were not overt political statements, nor were we in an election period.
"The advice provided to the Provost was the two statements posted by Labour councillors at a recent meeting could be seen as overt political statements which were using council resources.
"The Provost requested that they be removed. Council resources are not allowed to be used for party political electioneering.
"The Provost provided guidance which if they choose to ignore could lay themselves open to further action. This prohibition is clearly laid out in the relevant legislation."
