The SNP has condemned the appointment of former Labour minister Tom McCabe as a policy advisor to Land and Environmental Services in Glasgow City Council.

Graeme Hendry, Leader of the Glasgow SNP Group, said this was yet another example of “jobs for the boys”.

The post is reported to pay just under £50,000 a year and is supposed to be a non-political role.

Mr Hendry said: “Glasgow Labour’s murky history is clearly not in the past after appointing a failed Labour politician to a post that is supposed to be politically neutral.

“Not only is he a former Labour minister, he also ran the council campaign in Glasgow and has aligned himself to ensure he gets a top spot.

“Earning a reported salary of just under £50,000 a year is yet another slap in the face to the people of Glasgow. The list of incompetence and jobs for the boys goes on.

“I’ve raised my concerns with the chief solicitor at the council.

“Tom McCabe has mastered the art of golden handshakes and has been handsomely rewarded for his part in the council campaign.

“This post is supposed to be non-political – what assurances can he make to the people of Glasgow that he will not be putting his allegiances to Labour first?"

James Dornan, SNP MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, said: "The people of Glasgow will be watching this appointment with interest given the recent spate of retirements and redundancies.

"It certainly appears that once again Glasgow Labour is using council taxpayers' money for party political purposes."