100 reasons for city voters to back Labour in May election, party chiefs say

Matheson: Labour leader outlines election promises.© STV

Labour leaders have claimed there are 100 reasons why voters in Scotland's largest city should back them in the upcoming local government elections.

Scots will elect their local councillors on May 3, with the battle for control of Glasgow City Council one of the most hotly contested between Labour and the Nationalists.

Earlier in April Labour unveiled its party's 100-point manifesto for the authority, and with 10 days to go until the elections, the party launched a pledge card setting out its key commitments to residents in the city.

Gordon Matheson, the leader of the council, teamed up with Labour leader Johann Lamont and her deputy Anas Sarwar - who represent Glasgow constituencies at Holyrood and Westminster respectively - for the launch.

Mr Matheson said: "Labour has a positive vision for our city - a vision to take Glasgow forward, create jobs, build schools and improve housing.

"The choice in this election is clear. We have set out 100 reasons to vote Labour next week and have put some of our most urgent plans on this pledge card.

"They are positive, ambitious and every single one will be delivered. Thousands of these will land in letter boxes across the city in the coming days because we are fighting hard for every vote and taking nothing for granted."

Mr Matheson claimed the SNP was "putting the referendum first" in this election while Labour would "put Glasgow first with new schools, extra childcare, more houses, a plan for jobs, a crackdown on dog fouling and support for pensioners".

He stated: "These local elections are about what is best for our city."

The launch of Labour's pledge card came after reports that the SNP group leader on the council, Allison Hunter, had refused to confirm if she would put her name forward to be group leader after the elections.

Mr Matheson said: "I am 100% committed to this job, leading our city, and changing Glasgow for the better."

But he accused the SNP in the city of offering "weak leadership and no policies", adding: "Allison Hunter has already admitted she is treating this as a stepping stone to the referendum, and now can't even decide whether she is even interested in the job of running Glasgow.

"This city doesn't need a leader who is 'up in the air' or distracted by the referendum. Glasgow needs a strong team with a plan for the future."

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