Former Labour councillors at Scotland's biggest local authority are preparing to launch a rival party to field candidates in May's local election.

Labour-controlled Glasgow City Council this week saw off an internal party rebellion to secure narrow approval for its budget.

Labour councillors Stephen Dornan, Tommy Morrison and Anne Marie Millar resigned from the party before the vote, and ultimately voted for the alternative budget proposed by the SNP and other parties.

Three other Labour councillors also voted against the administration's budget: Ruth Black, William O'Rourke and Andy Muir.

However, the council budget passed with a narrow majority of 40 votes to 38.

Tommy Morrison said an application had been made to the Electoral Commission to register a new group, provisionally named Glasgow Labour.

The group plans to stand one candidate in each of the city's 21 wards, Mr Morrison told a Sunday newspaper.

He said he envisaged around 23 candidates standing on the banner of re-election in the new party.

Mr Morrison told the newspaper: "I'd like to see this new party give the citizens a wider choice in this election.

"We have to wait for the approval of the Electoral Commission, which has one or two issues with the application. Their difficulty is the word Labour. The commission's view is that anyone else using that word could confuse voters".

Meanwhile, Glasgow City Council leader Gordon Matheson told another newspaper that the six rebels should "examine their consciences", accusing them of "trying to wreck revenge" for being deselected.

He said: "Every single one had been de-selected by the party. The motivation was simply about trying to wreck revenge".

Mr Matheson also pledged to rebuild or refurbish every primary school in Glasgow that requires repair if Labour is re-elected in May.

He said: “I am proud of Glasgow and ambitious for our city. Parents and teachers whose kids already have a new primary school know the difference that makes. We should be giving every child the best chance in life. That’s why Labour will rebuild or refurbish every primary school in Glasgow. Every school which needs it will benefit from a new build or a deep refurbishment programme. We are not talking about a lick of paint here, but creating brilliant new primary schools. The city’s secondary schools and Early Years centres have been dealt with, but this is unfinished business because there are primary schools which, while they may be excellent schools, the condition of the building is not acceptable.

“Last week, the SNP budget, backed by the Tories, proposed a cut of £1 million from city schools. That was a shameful, shoddy proposal that had more to do with political posturing and personal ambition than doing what is right for the city. That budget was rightly voted down by Labour councillors - both those who will be fighting the next election and those who won’t - who believe in the importance and value of education.”

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