A Labour councillor was just seconds from being caught with his pants down after he neglected to turn off his camera and microphone during an ill-timed bathroom break.
Bailie Hanif Raja was participating in an online discussion about a proposal to build a battery storage facility near Ibrox raised earlier in the day.
When nature calls, the Cllr Raja’s camera shows him standing up and making his way to the bathroom.
Seemingly oblivious to his camera still broadcasting his movements to his fellow councillors, the Pollokshields councillor places the laptop on the floor.
As the discussion began on the application for the battery storage system, Councillor Raja stood by the toilet and began pulling down his jogging bottoms, before the frantic voice of another participant called out.
“Before we start,” spoke the faceless voice, “Bailie Raja – are you aware that your camera is live?”
With the councillor’s camera safely switched off in the nick of time, the meeting carried on with the agenda.
The video meeting does not appear on the council’s webcast library, but the embarrassing moment was recorded before appearing on social media yesterday evening.
Councillor Raja stood by the toilet and began pulling down his jogging bottoms, before a frantic voice called out
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At time of writing, the clip has already been watched more than 140,000 times and has been reshared by more than 500 accounts, with users on X lining up to type their toilet humour puns in the comments.
“Councillor Hanif Raja, your motion has been past (sic),” wrote Chris Ellingham, adding “now flush”.
MacFife joined in, writing: “This is probably the best contribution, Councillor Raja has ever made to any meeting.
“No wonder Glasgow is such a dump.”
Some X users drew comparisons between the councillor and Leslie Nielsen’s Naked Gun character Frank Drebin, while Calum Anderson chose to be optimistic with his comment: “Good to see he’s actually awake. He usually likes a nap through Licensing hearings.”
An SNP spokesman told The Herald: “Hybrid working has had real benefits for family life, but you cannot be dropping the kids off at the pool during a planning meeting.”
Meanwhile, Glasgow Reform Councillor for Shettleston, Thomas Kerr, added: “Councillor Raja has taken Labour’s policy on the British economy a bit too literal – like Rachel Reeves, Reform UK will make sure their mess is flushed away.”
Scottish Labour has been approached for comment.