INVERCLYDE Council’s SNP group have called for council leader Stephen McCabe to step down after he was arrested and charged in connection with an alleged domestic assault and a breach of the peace.
Police confirmed earlier this week that Councillor McCabe had been released to appear in court at a later date in connection with the incident and that a report was due to be sent to the procurator fiscal.
We revealed on Monday that the Labour party had suspended councillor McCabe pending the outcome of investigations into the allegations.
The Tele understands that councillors from Inverclyde Council’s SNP group have now contacted the local authority’s chief executive Louise Long to express their collective belief that he should resign his position.
A spokesperson for the council’s SNP group told the Tele: “Given the recent events, the SNP Inverclyde Group do not believe that Councillor McCabe should remain as leader of Inverclyde Council.
“We hope that he will consider his position and resign ahead of a future meeting of the council.”
The leader of the council would normally represent the local authority at at least one of the area's Remembrance Sunday commemorations, but Inverclyde Council announced on Tuesday that its depute leader, Cllr McCabe's Labour colleague Natasha McGuire, would be the authority's representative at this Sunday's service in Greenock.
Councillor McCabe, as well as being the authority's leader, represents the Inverclyde East ward, which covers part of Port Glasgow as well as Kilmacolm and Quarriers Village.
The 60-year-old politician was first elected to the former Inverclyde District Council in 1992.
He was elected to Inverclyde Council in 1999 and was re-elected in 2003, 2007, 2012, 2017 and 2022.
Councillor McCabe was first elected to the position of Inverclyde Council leader in 2007.
The Labour politician stood down from the position in February of 2011, but was re-elected in August of that year after the post became vacant due to his successor’s election as Inverclyde’s MP.
In a statement issued on Monday, a Police Scotland spokesperson said: “A 60-year-old man has been arrested and charged in relation to a domestic assault and a breach of the peace.
“He has been released on an undertaking to appear in court at a later date.
“A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”
An Inverclyde Council spokesperson said: “The Leader of the Council is appointed by the democratically elected members.
“Any change in the Council’s leadership can only be brought about by the action of elected members through a Council meeting or by resignation.
“It is a matter for elected members to decide upon.”
The Telegraph has contacted councillor McCabe for comment on the SNP group’s calls.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article