Glasgow’s Lord Provost Eva Bolander to resign following expenses row

The Lord Provost of Glasgow, Eva Bolander, is to resign following a controversy over her expenses.

Ms Bolander came under fire after it was revealed she had claimed £8,000 worth of items, all billed to the taxpayer.

The SNP councillor had previously apologised and had offered to pay some of the money back.

At a meeting of SNP councillors on Wednesday afternoon she said she had made an error of judgement, although the spending was within the rules.

Ms Bolander’s expenses were obtained by the Daily Record via a freedom of information request, and covered claims from May 2017 to August this year.

The Lord Provost’s expenses also included £389 for Harris Tweed fabric, about £992 for 14 dresses and £435 for seven blazers.

Ms Bolander – who earns £39,310 – had her nails done 20 times and claimed for 10 hair appointments totalling £751.

The most expensive items were a pair of £358 spectacles and £200 hat from milliner William Chambers.

The issue was raised at First Minister’s Questions in Holyrood when Conservative MSP Adam Tomkins argued Ms Bolander had “ripped off the people of Glasgow”.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said her SNP colleague Ms Bolander was an “excellent Lord Provost” but was “absolutely right” to reflect on her expenses claims and had made the “right decision” that some should not have been made.