A SCOTTISH independence campaigner who was jailed after ignoring council orders has been banned from driving private hires.

Mandeep Singh’s licence was suspended for two weeks following a complaint from Police Scotland.

In May 2019, he refused to change the start time of an All Under One Banner march through Glasgow.

Mr Singh was later sentenced to 72 days in prison after pleading guilty to holding a procession not in accordance with council conditions.

Glasgow City Council had asked for the event to start at 11am due to concerns over public safety and city centre congestion.

The march, which began at 1.30pm, also did not follow the route set out by the council.

His solicitor Michael Gallen told licensing chiefs how the incident was a “matter of deep regret” for his client.

He said it was an “isolated” incident which was “entirely out of character” and Mr Singh had been “punished severely”, serving six weeks of the sentence.

“He now finds himself in a situation where his very livelihood is in the balance,” he added.

Four character references were also submitted to the licensing committee.

Mr Singh said a “last minute” decision by the council meant “people wouldn’t be able to rebook their tickets that they’d already paid for”.

“We never put anyone at risk,” he added, saying he followed Police Scotland orders on the day.

Tens of thousands of people took part in the march, which started in Kelvingrove Park.

Labour councillor Aileen McKenzie had called for a four-week suspension, but the two-week ban was decided following a vote.

She said: “The purpose of the committee is to determine whether or not the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a licence.

“Regardless of the explanation Mr Singh gave over his conviction for holding the All Under One Banner March at a time he had not been given permission from the council to do, there were still other issues pertaining to the fact he did not disclose his conviction and subsequent incarceration to the licensing department.”

This was a “clear breach” of the conditions of his licence, she added.

Mr Gallen had said his client had organised “as many as 15 similar events” across Scotland and “fully complied with all the conditions”.

“They have involved the coming together of hundreds of thousands of men, women and children, who have enjoyed the events and enjoyed them in a peaceful fashion.”

He said the incident had no “direct relevance” to his job as a private hire driver.

Licensing committee chairman Alex Wilson said: “We expect our drivers not to get imprisoned.

“We expect them to carry out their duties without having any background that is going to cause the committee any cause for alarm.”

Mr Wilson, an SNP councillor, seconded Bailie Malcolm Balfour’s call for a two-week suspension.

Ms McKenzie, seconded by Councillor Philip Charles, suggested a four-week ban. The vote was split, giving a casting vote to the chairman, Mr Wilson.