Michael Kelly (Lord Provost)

Michael Kelly (born 1940) is a Scottish Labour politician and businessman. He graduated from the University of Strathclyde and became a lecturer in Economics there and a Labour councillor. From 1984 he was Managing Director of Michael Kelly Associates, a PR company. He held the position of Lord Provost of Glasgow from 1980 to 1984,^[1] and was Rector of the University of Glasgow from 1984 to 1987.^[2] As Lord Provost, he was instrumental in the city's adoption of the Glasgow's miles better campaign and slogan, which is credited with an important role in Glasgow's cultural renaissance during the 1980s.^[2] A member of one of the families that had controlled Celtic F.C. since its foundation, he sat on the club's board of directors until 1994, when the club reached the verge of bankruptcy and the much-criticised old regime was ousted by Fergus McCann's takeover.

Dr Kelly is now a writer and PR consultant.

On 13 February 2014 Kelly declared on Newsnight Scotland that in the event that Scotland became independent Scottish Labour MPs and MSPs would “to a person” back Ed Balls refusing a currency union between Scotland and the UK, even if it damaged Scotland, because otherwise Labour might lose a UK election.^[3]

Although Labour Party rules prohibit supporting other political parties,^[4] Kelly urged Labour supporters, via his Twitter page, to vote Liberal Democrat in the seat of Gordon, upon Alex Salmond's announcement on 7 December 2014 that he would seek selection for the seat.^[5]

References

1. ↑ "Provosts of Glasgow". Glasgow City Council. Retrieved 22 January 2010. 
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Biography of Michael Kelly". University of Glasgow. Retrieved 22 January 2010. 
3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4AejrA9BFg, 18.00 mins
4. ↑ Labour Party Rules, Ch. 2 Clause 1 Article B
5. ↑ Kelly's Twitter page reproduced in http://wingsoverscotland.com/the-conservative-and-labour-party/