GLASGOW’S former Lord Provost has been accused of remaining on the “gravy train” after being the only non-senior council official to receive tickets to a Euro 2020 match at Hampden.
Glasgow City Council boss Councillor Susan Aitken and Glasgow Life chair Councillor David McDonald were both invited to games held at the famous Scottish stadium as part of their roles within the local authority.
However, Councillor Eva Bolander, who was forced to resign from her role as Lord Provost over an expenses scandal, was also offered coveted tickets.
Cllr Bolander was the only elected official on the Glasgow Life board and the only councillor not serving in a senior capacity to receive the ticket.
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The city’s Labour party said it was “confusing” to discover the former Lord Provost had been offered the tickets when no one else on the board had been.
Councillor Paul Carey said: “I find it quite strange that the former Lord Provost Eva Bolander is still receiving some form of hospitality.
“I notice the only two board members of Glasgow life that got tickets was Councillor Bolander and Councillor McDonald.
“I know quite few of my constituents tried to get a ticket for the European games but were unable to get them.”
Glasgow Life confirmed Lord Provost Philip Braat, Billy Garrett, director of sport and events at Glasgow Life, and Martin Booth, executive director of finance at Glasow City Council had also been offered tickets.
The charity said Cllr Bolander was given the tickets to the Sweden v Ukraine match in her capacity as a board member and because she is a Swedish native.
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A spokeswoman for Glasgow Life said: “As one of the 11 UEFA EURO 2020 Host Cities, Glasgow City Council received four UEFA guest tickets per game hosted at Hampden, and these were allocated to senior officials and members of the council.
“On three occasions, tickets were reallocated to other officials or officers: one to Cllr Eva Bolander for the Sweden v Ukraine match in her capacity as a board member of Glasgow Life, and also as a Swedish native, and two to Martin Booth for the Croatia v Czech Republic and Scotland v Czech Republic matches in his capacity as chair of Glasgow Euro 2020 Senior Officers Group, and Glasgow city representative on the Local Organising Committee group.
“In addition, Glasgow received almost 100 complimentary tickets across all four games and these were allocated to care experienced children through the Health and Social Care Partnership.”
Cllr Bolander did not respond to requests for comment.
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