Police Investigating Brawl After Dunbartonshire Count (from The Herald Election Site)

Police are investigating allegations of assault after a brawl involving candidates and agents in last week's elections.

The row, which erupted outside a Dumbarton pub a few hours after Friday's local government election count, follows months of tension between Labour members and former colleagues purged from the party after an investigation into the running of West Dunbartonshire Council.

Linda McColl, the former deputy provost of West Dunbartonshire, and her husband, George, claim to have been left with bruised heads, arms and feet in the fracas.

Mrs McColl claims to have been called "a racist" seconds before the incident, a reference to an investigation in 2004 when she was cleared of sending racist e-mails after blaming her niece and husband for accidentally forwarding them to 15 fellow councillors.

The McColls blame Labour councillors and activists in Dumbarton for Friday's incident and have made a formal complaint to police. But others allegedly involved deny they were the instigators.

Friends of the Labour Party members say they have appealed to them to contact police and it is understood those involved are reviewing the situation and are expected to contact lawyers and the police in the coming days.

The licensee of the pub, the Glencairn Lounge, told The Herald that those allegedly involved were asked to leave and have since been barred.

The Audit Commission last year found severe mismanagement in West Dunbartonshire council. Its leader, Andy White, was expelled by Labour.

Several in the White camp, including Mrs McColl, were blocked from standing as Labour candidates, though she had resigned beforehand. She failed to be re-elected as an independent last week.

Mrs McColl said: "A witness, who is currently in Australia and will not be back for another two weeks. At that stage we expect the police to take some action."

A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said: "We did receive a report of an assault in Glencairn Bar on Friday, May 4. Inquiries are continuing."

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear ..... Why do the words `unedifying` and `conduct` go together so well when describing Labour `cooncillors` - especially when they have lost their grip on the reins of power?

Some entertainment to enjoy as we await the shuffling of Joke McConnel out the back door and the entrance of Alex Salmond as First Minister. Expect more fisticuffs from Labour cooncillers and their families (oops I meant their employees) when it finally dawns on them that the gravy train has just dried up.

This episode reveals the dark current of extremism that runs beneath the surface of the labour party. I can only hope the electorate rejects the veneer of civilisation presented to them and does not grant power to this party of unstable wreckers. Ya see what ah did there?

Scottish Labour Councillors, dignified, upstanding pillars of democracy. Settling their disagreements by having "a square go" in a Dumbarton pub on election night. Who put the **** on these red roses? Or alternatively..........

Scottish Labour Councillors, dignified, upstanding pillars of democracy.

Settling their disagreements by having "a square go" in a Dumbarton pub on election night.

Who put the **** on these red roses? Or alternatively..........

I remember reading a quote by Clydeside's Jimmy Reid where he said that, when he was young, the only two rich people in his neighbourhood were the local bookie and the Labour councillor.

This story is an excellent piece of fiction. Mrs McColl and her husband regularly frequent the pub they have invented their story about, but it looks as though they strated just a little too long this time, Neither Mrs McColl nor her husband are noted for sobriety, or for their ability to tell the thruth about much. Maybe they were just a bit miffed that the good folks of Dumbarton rejected them at the ballot box and they lost the �10,000 they would otherwise have had. Mrs McColl may just have finally got what she deserved.

i would not be too sure this is all fiction , apart from the fact i know the doormen working that evening , i am also aware that one of the wittnesess has a very high standing in the legal profession

Now now, johnnywalker, we're really getting into fiction now. Doorman?? Witnesses?? Legal experts?? This is all 244-108just a sordid little tale put about by the McColls

i can understand your mistrust cairnglen but believe me i have no time for the mccolls or our local labour group as both have been active in destroying the community in which i live for years. i have spoken to 1st hand observers of this incident and can assure you it did happen , and in the presance of our local PF of all people !

i can understand your mistrust cairnglen but believe me i have no time for the mccolls or our local labour group as both have been active in destroying the community in which i live for years.
i have spoken to 1st hand observers of this incident and can assure you it did happen , and in the presance of our local PF of all people !

cairnglen, the labour party employed people like sharkey and the audit commission valked about bullying and initimidation, surely not all fiction, thank god they are now in opposition and have no members, except their family supporters and their employees such as our msps secretary who worked her socks off to keep her paymaster in a job.

Seems to me that with the Proc Fisc as a witness this is one which not even Cairnglen and the Spin Doctor (have you ever seem them both together in the same room?) will be able to squirm their way out of. Would the last person out of West Dunbartonshire please turn off the lights....

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