Drug charity’s funding is safe after SNP councillor was accused of threat

Funding for a drugs charity will not be affected after its future was allegedly threatened by an SNP councillor.

The grant-awarding Corra Foundation reassured Favor (Faces and Voices of Recovery) after councillor Graham Campbell was accused of threatening to use party contacts against it.

The threats, which Campbell denied, were allegedly made after Favor chief executive Annemarie Ward told him to leave an event at Bluevale Community Centre in Glasgow last month. Ward accused him of only turning up to get his photograph taken by media attending the launch of Favor’s annual report.

Ward told The Sunday Post that Campbell then threatened her with consequences and said his people would withdraw support unless she apologised. Another councillor who witnessed the altercation claimed Campbell, whose partner is SNP MP Anne McLaughlin, told Ward funding for her charity could be cut.

SNP councillor Graham Campbell accused of threatening drug charity

A second witness who did not want to be named said Campbell threatened Ward with consequences if she didn’t apologise.

The Corra Foundation, which provides government grants to support the National Drugs Mission to reduce drugs deaths, is a major funder of Favor, which helps addicts recover.

It has provided £60,000 in the last two years and has pledged a further £200,000 over the next four years.

Programme lead Rowan Anderson said: “An approach by an elected member would not influence a funding decision. Corra Foundation administers these funds on behalf of the Scottish Government and manages them in line with our agreement with the government.”

Ward said: “It’s comforting to know that the threat made by a local councillor won’t influence funders, who will act with integrity.”

The SNP said: “Councillor Campbell denies these accusations in the strongest possible terms.”