A Glasgow mother faces a legal bill of more than £42,000 after her failed court challenge to Glasgow City Council's budget, prompting warnings that the cost could deter parent volunteers from holding the council to account.

Leanne McGuire, the former chair of the Glasgow City Parents Group, led an unsuccessful bid for a judicial review of the council's budget over proposed cuts to teacher jobs. The council successfully defended the challenge and the court awarded expenses in its favour, leaving Ms McGuire personally liable for the authority's legal costs.

The case was raised at last week's full council meeting, where council leader Ricky Bell said the authority had a duty to protect the public purse and recoup the money spent defending the proceedings. He called it disappointing that no contribution towards the costs had been offered, but said the council remained open to reasonable settlement proposals.

Labour councillor Stephen Curran asked the leader to reconsider, warning that there was a risk to the parents group continuing if volunteers felt they could be left with such a bill for questioning council decisions in court.

The dispute dates back to the council's 2024 budget, which proposed cutting 172 teaching posts that year as part of a three-year plan to shed 450 jobs. A judge ruled against the parents group, and earlier this year Ms McGuire was sent a letter demanding more than £42,000 in legal fees. The teaching cuts were later abandoned after widespread opposition.

Ms McGuire, awarded the British Empire Medal for her voluntary work with parents across Glasgow, has said the demand could have a huge impact on her. The council says money spent defending legal proceedings cannot be spent on frontline services for children, young people and families. Read the full report in the Glasgow Times.