Legal claim filed by construction workers鈥� union Ucatt against its former boss

Former Ucatt head Alan Ritchie has denied any wrongdoing as it emerged he is being taken to court by the union over allegations surrounding prior expenses claimed by him.

A claim has been filed by Ucatt鈥檚 lawyers and is in the court listings awaiting a hearing date, likely to be early next year.

A statement from Ritchie鈥檚 lawyers said he 鈥渨holeheartedly denies the allegations made against him鈥� and that he was 鈥渃onfident he will succeed in clearing his name in court.鈥�

Ritchie, who resigned from Ucatt last year after being barred from standing for re-election, said this week: 鈥淢y lawyers are talking to the union鈥檚 lawyers. I鈥檝e done nothing wrong.鈥�

When Ritchie was elected general-secretary of the union, he continued to live in Glasgow and commuted weekly to Ucatt鈥檚 London headquarters, claiming the travel costs and accommodation on his expenses.

Ritchie said that his expenses were approved for seven years before the union suddenly said the claims were against the rules.

He said: 鈥淚 had an agreement with the previous general-secretary that I would have an accommodation allowance of 拢48 per night during the week when I stayed in London and that the union would pay for my travel to and from Glasgow.

鈥淭he accountants signed off on all my expenses every year.鈥�

Ucatt declined to comment.

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