 | 'A Justice of the Peace has admitted he works for a private taxi hire firm at the centre of a money-laundering probe. Bailie Jim Todd drives for Network, which is owned by the notorious McGovern crime clan.' Taxi Driver, 5 th July 2005. |  |
| 'A Justice of the Peace has admitted he works for a private taxi hire firm at the centre of a money-laundering probe. Bailie Jim Todd drives for Network, which is owned by the notorious McGovern crime clan.' Taxi Driver, 5 th July 2005. | |
There was a by-election for the Springburn ward of the City of Glasgow Council on the 14 th of March 2002 following the death of Cllr Ronald Davies on the 15 th January 2002.
Springburn is in the new Glasgow North West Westminster parliamentary seat (held by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin MP) and in the Glasgow Springburn Scottish parliamentary seat (held by Labour's Paul Martin MSP).
| 14 th March 2002 By-election Turnout % ( %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Todd |  |
Labour | 748 | 58.9 % | - 5.6 % |
 |
Scottish National Party | 286 | 22.5 % | - 4.9 % | |
 |
Scottish Socialist Party | 106 | 8.4 % | (+ 8.4 %) | |
 |
Conservative | 57 | 4.5 % | - 2.3 % | |
| Charles Dundas |  |
Liberal Democrat | 45 | 3.5 % | (+ 3.5 %) |
 |
Scottish Green Party | 26 | 2.1 % | (+ 2.1 %) | |
| Labour hold | |
Labour majority | 462 | 36.4 % | - 0.7 % |
| 6 th May 1999 Turnout 47.4 % (+ 8.3 %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ronald Davey | |
Labour | 1,856 | 64.5 % | - 14.6 % |
| Richard Quinn | |
Scottish National Party | 788 | 27.4 % | + 6.5 % |
| Cameron A. Brown | |
Conservative | 197 | 6.8 % | (+ 6.8 %) |
| Paul J. Dillon | Humanist | 37 | 1.3 % | (+ 1.3 %) | |
| Labour hold | |
Labour majority | 1,068 | 37.1 % | - 21.0 % |
| 6 th April 1995 Turnout 39.1 % | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ronald Davey | |
Labour | 1,868 | 79.1 % | |
| Ian MacQuarrie | |
Scottish National Party | 495 | 20.9 % | |
| Labour win | |
Labour majority | 1,373 | 58.1 % | |
THE SPRINGBURN community was stunned last week at the sudden death of local councillor, Ron Davey, who died last Tuesday evening after suffering a heart attack.
Councillor Davey (62) had represented the people of Springburn as councillor since 1985.
Born and brought up in the area, Councillor Davey spent much of his life fighting for the people closest to his heart.
Close friends and colleagues have all been stunned by the news - none more so than Springburn MP and Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin, who had known Ron for 30 years.
Mr Martin said: ''It was a terrible shock to me, Ronnie was my close personal friend for 30 years.
He was a man who would give good advice and anything I told him was kept strictly confidential.
''When the general election was called in 1979, I was the parliamentary candidate for Springburn. Ronnie was my agent and we started off with a budget of £75 and we ran the campaign on a shoestring.
''All credit to Ronnie, I was returned with an added majority of 3000 votes. By the year 1987 I had a 22,000 majority all thanks to Ron Davey.
''Not only do I remember him fondly as my closest advisor and parliamentary agent but also because he fought hard for the people of Springburn.
''Ronnie was to the fore in the campaign for Stobhill, and it was thanks to Ronnie that we have a first class sports centre and swimming pool to replace the old Kay Street baths.
''I will very much miss this good friend and my thoughts go out to his wife May and his son Brian, who have lost a fine husband and first-class father.
Springburn MSP, Paul Martin, said that he will always have ''dear memories of Ron and vowed to keep his memory alive in Springburn, in the future.
Mr Martin said: ''I have known Ronnie since I was 10 and I will have many dear memories of him. He was a dear friend, a good colleague and a great servant to the local community.
''When you are involved in politics, people pass away, but there are people who you will always remember and Ronnie certainly fits into that category.
''I joined the Labour Party when I was 16 and Ronnie was always around and he certainly played a part in shaping my thoughts in the party.
''One of the things myself and other elected members will be doing - in full consultation with Ronnie s family - is making sure there will be some sort of memorial to recognise his contribution to the local community.
Councillor Davey was Convener of the Development and Regeneration Services (Development Applications) Sub-Committe and was also a member of the Housing, Land and Protective services committees at Glasgow City Council.
A former miner, driving instructor and whisky bond official, Ron was also Convener of the Planning Committee between 1996 and 1998.
His sudden death has left everyone connected with Glasgow City Council deeply shocked, with Lord Provost Alex Mosson saying that the people of Springburn had lost a first-class councillor.
He said: ''Although Ron had not been in good health recently, his death has still come as a terrible shock. He and I worked closely together for many years as members of Glasgow City Council and its predecessor.
PRIVILEGE
''I liked and admired Ron very much - and his constituents have lost a first-class councillor whose interests were always at the forefront of his thoughts and endeavours."
Glasgow City Council Council Leader Charles Gordon added: ''In Ron Davey, Glasgow City Council has lost one of its most respected and experienced members. He will be sorely missed by officers and political colleagues alike.
''Ron s particular forte was town planning; his considerable knowledge and expertise were much in evidence during every committee he chaired.
''Only last week, he oversaw what proved to be his last committee with his customary humour and attention to detail. He will be a hard act to follow.
Close colleagues, Councillor Allan Stewart and Councillor Mary Beckett, both paid tribute to Ron s dedication to the people of Springburn.
Councillor Stewart said: ''Ronnie was a man who was absolutely dedicated to serving the people in the Springburn ward.
''He was one of the most experienced and respected councillors in Glasgow City Council, and was particularly renowned for his work in local regeneration and planning.
''He had a real feel for local people and solving their problems, and they in turn respected him for that.
Councillor Beckett said: ''Ron Davey was an extremely hard-working councillor who gave a great service to the community.
''I am vice-convener of the Planning Committee which he chaired and it was a privilege to work with him.
''I would pay tribute to the work he did in the area, and he will be sorely missed there.
''I will miss him greatly.
Councillor Davey s dedication to the people of Springburn was epitomized by his work in the establishment of Springburn and Possilpark Housing Association (SPHA) 25 years ago.
Ron fought hard to improve housing conditions in Springburn and it is a fitting tribute that the SPHA has just celebrated its 25th anniversary.
SPHA Chairperson David Cowan said: ''It s fair to say that, without Ron s vision, expertise and tireless work, SPHA might not have made it past its first few years.
''He became involved when locals formed a small housing association to save a tenement block in St Monance Street, and he then steered us towards an alliance with like-minded people in Possilpark and on to financial security.
''I m glad that he survived to see our 25th birthday, and to witness the real difference the association has made to the area he loved.
SPHA Director Robert Tamburrini added: ''Throughout his life, Ron worked hard to help people and his local community, without seeking favour or acknowledgement.
''He was a very genuine person and a first class elected member. His family can be rightly proud of him.
A funeral service was held for Councillor Davey at the Immaculate Heart of Mary chapel in Springburn yesterday (Tuesday) morning.
A JUSTICE of the Peace has admitted he works for a private taxi hire firm at the centre of a money-laundering probe.
Bailie Jim Todd drives for Network, which is owned by the notorious McGovern crime clan.
The firm is one of six which rakes in £600,000 a year in contract work from Glasgow City Council mainly in school runs. Todd, who sits on the licensing board, has been Labour councillor for Springburn since 2002.
In February, Network's Springburn HQ was raided as part of Operation Maple, a police blitz on crooked assets.
Last night, a Glasgow City Council spokesman said that taxis were licensed but radio bases were not. He added that Network's contract with them was not at risk and claimed: 'No evidence has been brought to the council's attention.'
Using the call sign C192, Todd spends his day driving for Network and attending council duties at the city chambers.
His entry in the register of interests states: 'Net Work = Self Employed Taxi Driver (Car Owner).'
As a JP he can dispense justice on criminal cases in district courts and sign official documents such as passport applications.
Most private hire firms in Glasgow and many across Scotland are owned by organised crime gangs.
MSP Sandra White said: 'I find it astonishing that a councillor would choose to work for a company like this.
'He should be aware of what is happening in the area he represents. He should know all about concerns relating to private-hire companies in general, including this one.'
Todd refused to say whether he knew the firm's offices had been raided by police. He admitted having heard of the McGoverns but said he had no dealings with them. In a prepared statement he said: 'I can confirm I'm a self-employed taxi driver who obtains fares through Network Private Hire and that is a matter of public record.'
Todd lives with wife Sandra in a detached home in Bishopbriggs. He was unknown in city political circles before winning the Springburn ward in 2002.
He won the by-election after the death of his predecessor Ron Davey, who was close to the McGoverns.
One source said: 'There was one incident when Davey was threatened and assaulted by a member of the McGovern family. There was no police involvement.'
Network is fronted by Allan Gibson and former council taxi enforcement officer Kenneth McLeod, both 44. Glasgow's taxi enforcement officers all quit in 1995 after being threatened by gangster-run firms.
They included McLeod, who is now the official face of Network Scotland's second-largest taxi firm.
Politics in the area are dominated by the Martin dynasty. Michael is MP and Speaker of the House of Commons and his son Paul is the MSP.
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