Labour choose Logue as new council leader

New Labour leader Jim Logue, left, with Provost Jim Robertson and group business manager Heather McVey.

He was the unanimous choice of the authority’s ruling Labour group who met on Monday to choose a successor to long-serving Jim McCabe.

Councillor McCabe (75) had announced last month that he was to step down after 18 years. His last significant act was to present the council’s annual budget last week.

Councillor Logue, who is an Airdrie Central councillor, is convener of the council’s learning and leisure services and board chairman of North Lanarkshire Leisure, the council-funded organisation which manages the area’s sports and leisure facilities.

Motherwell West councillor Paul Kelly is Labour’s new depute leader and Kilsyth councillor Heather McVey was elected the group’s business manager.

Councillor Logue, whose position as council leader will be confirmed at a special meeting next week, said: “Our achievements are second to none, from investing in housing, creating employment through our terrific Youth Investment Programme to spending £500 million on upgrading our school estate.

“We continue to face incredible challenges as a consequence of the unfair, disproportionate cuts from the SNP Government - cuts that hit vital services which people in our communities rely on. I will continue to fight these cuts with every fibre of my being.”