THE leader of Glasgow City Council has offered an apology for a remark and picture she shared in a private SNP Facebook group about Labour group leader Frank McAveety.
She also branded the leak of the private group post as a “betrayal of trust”.
Mr McAveety, however, has slammed Susan Aitken by saying: “It’s clearly not an apology.”
Ms Aitken was reported by Labour group leader Frank McAveety to the Standards Commissioner for posting a picture last year amid a controversy about the council refusing a fanzone at Ibrox. It showed Mr McAveety attending a Rangers match in 2015 in the directors’ box.
She commented: “Oh and if anyone fancies getting these nice photos of Frank McAveety enjoying hospitality in the Rangers directors’ box out there.”
The post in a closed SNP Facebook group was leaked last month.
The leader was accused by Labour of attempting to stir up a sectarian divide the city is trying to move away from.
Mr McAveety said at a meeting of Glasgow City Council on Thursady that he was disappointed in the remark as the leader represents a local authority where football affiliation represents a “challenge”.
Ms Aitken repeated the post was “just a joke” and not related to sectarianism.
She said: “It was a joke. It was nothing to do with sectarianism or football.”
She said it was made in private and was not shared by anyone at the time.
Ms Aitken said the SNP, like other parties, had been the “victim of a leak”, adding that political groups are entitled to have private discussions.
She said: “If I had wanted to do as Frank McAveety suggests, then I could have tweeted it.
“I chose not to. I had no interest in continuing the unpleasant narrative.”
She added: “It had nothing to do with sectarianism.”
Read more: Rangers fanzone could still go ahead after 'encouraging' talks
She said the leaker had “betrayed the trust of the SNP group” by putting it in the public domain.
She added: “If Councillor McAveety is genuinely offended then I apologise.” However, she said she shouldn’t have to apologise as “there was never any sectarian motive.”
The Labour group leader was not impressed by the offer of an apology.
Mr McAveety said: “It’s clearly not an apology.
“Susan Aitken was more concerned about who leaked the post rather than the substance of the comments, which was clearly designed for people to react on Facebook and social media.
“I am still waiting to for the Standards Commissioner to decide if it is to be investigated.”
The fanzone row led to accusations that Ms Aitken and her deputy David McDonald had intervened in council business to prevent Rangers gaining permission to use a council facility opposite Ibrox Stadium for a fanzone on match days.
It was ruled out because it did not have the full support of the community council.
The SNP was accused by Labour and Conservative politicians in the city of an anti-Rangers agenda and stirring up a sectarian divide.
However, Ms Aitken has said that, following the opposition remarks, she had been the subject of “extremist abuse” online.
She said there had been an “orchestrated and deliberate” attempt to attack her and her SNP colleagues.
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