A Labour councillor and prominent trade unionist is locked in a legal battle with Police Scotland over claims he tried to further his political career while he should have been working for them. George McIrvine, a Dundee councillor, is said to have falsified time sheets and attended Scottish Labour events – including the election of former party leader Richard Leonard in 2017 – while on secondment as the branch secretary for UNISON Police Staff Scotland. The police civilian worker also undertook paid training with a charity while he was off on sick leave. He was sacked in 2019 but has now raised an employment tribunal against the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) claiming he was unfairly dismissed and treated unfairly due to his trade union membership.