Deserter ex-Principal to get Solo Government Grilling
- editorinchief32
- Jun 24
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 26
By Connor Bertie
Over the next two days the University Executive Group (UEG), responsible for the crisis, will be grilled by Scottish parliament.
Tomorrow, Wednesday 25th, at least three former UEG members will face intense questioning. Their roles, names and earnings are as follows:
Former Chief Operating Officer: Jim McGeorge: £180,000 per year
Former Director of Finance: Peter Fotheringham: £130,000 per year
Former Chair of Court: Amanda Millar: £340/day, working 12 days per month.
McGeorge and Fotheringham both oversaw the mishandling of critical financial information. Their direct inaction sent the university into £35m crisis.
Former Vice-Principal, Lady Wendy Alexander is a different story. Yes, she was present to witness the financial fall of the university; however, the Courier revealed on Saturday that she was the only member of the UEG to raise concerns about it.
Upon raising those concerns to ex-Principal Gillespie, she was offered a pay-out and trip overseas in an apparent effort to silence her. She refused the proposal, and instead retired from her post, wishing to distance herself from all of it. Whether this can be argued as attempted bribery is yet to be seen.
Lady Alexander will not be in attendance tomorrow, but has submitted a 15-page testimony in her stead.
Tomorrows grilling can be watched with The Jute Journal team. We are hosting a LIVE watch party in the Dalhousie Building, 1F06, starting at 9.15am. Remember your popcorn.
On Thursday morning, 26th June, all will bear witness to a long-awaited event: the parliamentary grilling of ex-Principal, the deficit deserter: Iain Gillespie.
Infamous for abandoning his leadership responsibilities and leaving the institution in a dire position back in November 2024, the ex-principal is to face harsh criticism and scrutiny for his leading-role in overseeing the university crumble.
In case you missed his methods of mismanagement, they are as follows:
Knowing a financial crisis was well on the way in the 2023/24 Financial Year, Gillespie chose to take a £35,000 pay increase, raising his salary to £300,000 - £309,000 per year. If you think that £9,000 difference is insignificant, think of how much you get paid. He was also paid bonuses on top of this.
Knowing beyond a 'reasonable' doubt by July 2024, as Pamela Gillies put it, that the situation had become dire, Gillespie chose to do nothing.
Lying, by announcing that the university was ‘blooming’ between July and November 2024, along with many other declarations of greatness, despite the looming crisis.
Claiming excessive 'business expenses' the most notorious of which was his failed adventure to Hong Kong, in which he claimed back £4700.
After announcing the deficit, he abandoned his post just three weeks later, leaving his staff and students in uncertainty about their futures, leading to the rising threat of 700 job losses.
Six months after leaving, it was revealed that Gillespie took six months salary with him, amounting to a minimum of £150,000 for doing nothing, while his staff suffered in his stead.
After previously refusing to attend Parliament, Gillespie has been successfully pressured to reconsider.
Back in March, MSP Michael Marra said in a Townhall meeting that Gillespie should attend, in order to “clear his name”. With the above list just the tip of the iceberg, this is likely impossible. But one simple question must be answered: why did he do this?
The Gillespie grilling can be viewed LIVE on the Scottish Parliament website. It begins at 8:30am on Thursday.
Alongside Gillespie, the recently departed Principal 'Shame' O'Neill was due to appear in Thursday's Parliamentary grilling, but has elected not to return after last time. A spokesperson from Scottish Parliament said:
"Professor O'Neill has advised the Committee that he is not able to attend Thursday's meeting. The Committee will consider its next steps and any plans for further scrutiny later this week."
As a refresher, the events of the previous Education Committee can be read here.
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