Steven Purcell

Steven Purcell is a former Scottish Labour Party politician and was councillor for the Drumchapel and Anniesland ward in Glasgow and a former leader of Glasgow City Council. He was Leader of the Council from 24 May 2005 until 2 March 2010 when he announced he would be standing down from this position due to stress. He resigned his post as councillor on 5 March 2010.

In late September 2011, Strathclyde Police's major crime unit had completed a probe into Purcell over allegations of corruption and links with gangsters during his time as Leader of Glasgow City Council and have submitted reports to the Procurator-Fiscal. In January 2012 the Crown Office stated that there was insufficient evidence of criminality and no further action was currently appropriate.

Born in 1972, in Glasgow, he has lived all of his life in the Yoker area of Glasgow. He is a keen football fan and enjoys reading, music, history and debates among many interests. In 2006 he announced that he was gay and was separating from his wife.

He joined the Labour Party in 1986, and was first elected to Glasgow City Council in May 1995 for the ward of Blairdardie.

During his time at the council he had been the Council's Convener of Development & Regeneration Services and Convener of Education and later Leader of the Council.

Purcell played an instrumental part in bringing the 2014 Commonwealth Games to Glasgow, and was part of the Bid Team that mustered support for the games. On 9 November in Sri Lanka it was announced that Glasgow had won the games, following the result Purcell said;

The 2014 Commonwealth Games will create a lasting legacy for Glasgow, both economically and socially. The games will change the city, and change people's lives.

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Wikipedia