The SNP have challenged Iain Gray on claims by Glasgow’s Labour council leader over the council’s budget settlement.  SNP Glasgow MSP Bob Doris, vice convener of the Local Government and Communities Committee has written to Iain Gray asking which other local authority budget he would cut to meet Labour’s demands for Glasgow.

If Iain Gray agreed with Labour in Glasgow on changes to the settlement, Labour led North and South Lanarkshire, Midlothian, Clackmannanshire, Inverclyde, East Dunbartonshire and Falkirk amongst others could see their funding fall.

Glasgow currently receives the highest funding per head of any mainland local authority – nearly £500 above the average. Labour in the city have so far refused to accept that settlement which includes funding to retain police, employ new teachers and freeze the council tax.  Rejecting the package could see Labour increase Glasgow’s council tax by 18%.

Nine of the 12 Labour councils receive better than average funding settlements. Mr Doris has called on Labour to say if their Holyrood party supports Cllr Matheson's claims and how they would meet Mr Matheson’s demands.

"Labour is using Glasgow’s citizens as pawns in their petty political game with the SNP Government. Difficult times need responsible Government and Labour in Glasgow are letting people down.

"Iain Gray must answer for Labour, will he slash the funding to Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, East Dunbartonshire or Inverclyde to keep Glasgow councillors happy or will he call Cllr Matheson’s bluff and recognise that in the face of cuts from Labour, Tory and Lib Dem in London the deal for Glasgow is a good one.

"The SNP Government is awarding Glasgow £489 pounds more per person than the average payment to councils in Scotland.  The funding on offer from the SNP means there is no need to put up council tax yet Labour are threatening Glasgow’s taxpayers with hikes of up to 18%.

"Labour in Glasgow may find it convenient to attack the settlement for SNP councils but the truth is the funding formula sees Labour councils do considerably better than others. In fact far more Labour councils receive above average settlements than do those of any other party.??

"If Iain Gray plans to interfere with Scotland’s councils and rewrite the funding formula he should say so. If that means a better deal for Glasgow then I will be happy. However the money has to come from somewhere and be based on fairness.

"Gray must either support or slap down Matheson when he demands cash from other Councils. If not Labour will look as opportunist as the Lib Dems saying one thing locally and doing another thing nationally.

"The SNP Government providing nearly £500 a head to Glasgow more than any other Council to fund services in the city including protecting police numbers, employing teachers and freezing the council tax. In the current climate the deal on offer in the face of funding cuts, two thirds of which came from Labour in Westminster, is a good one.

"It's time Glasgow Labour put Glasgow before the  Labour Party They should accept the deal and remove the threat of huge council tax increases hanging over the city’s hard working tax payers."