GLASGOW Labour councillors have been slated by their opponents after walking out of the city’s budget vote.
The stunt – which saw all members of the Glasgow city council Labour group forfeit their vote to join trade unionists protesting outside the local authority headquarters – was described as showing the party as not being “fit to run a bath”.
Glasgow Labour said they were protesting the SNP’s management of the council, adding that the party had treated the city “with contempt”.
A cost-cutting budget was passed by the ruling SNP-Greens coalition which will see council tax hiked by 5% on city residents, while visitors to the Botanic Gardens’ glasshouses in the West End will be charged for entry in an effort to plug a £49 million hole in Glasgow’s finances.
In a statement, Glasgow Labour leader George Redmond said: “Enough is enough. For too long this SNP government has treated Glasgow with contempt - that they are now planning £400m of cuts is unacceptable.
“Glasgow Labour will simply have no part in a budget process which will wreak havoc on our city and damage those most in need.
“Not a single SNP or Green MSP was willing to listen to Labour and fight against the cuts - including the outgoing First Minister.
“The silence from SNP and Green MSPs is deafening. Our communities rely on these services, and they are willing to turn the other cheek. Glasgow deserves better.”
But the stunt was criticised by their opponents – with SNP councillor Alex Wilson accusing Labour councillors of abdicating responsibility.
He tweeted: “Shocking dereliction of duties from Glasgow Labour. We have come to expect Labour to hide when the going gets tough but to vanish altogether is a new level.
“Difficult decisions [are] what you are elected on. Do not walk away from the people you say you represent.”
Green and Tory councillors also walked out of the meeting after making speeches.
City treasurer Ricky Bell said the budget was “deeply imperfect” but insisted it was necessary in “the most turbulent economic and financial context most people can remember”.
And he criticised opposition groups, who didn’t present alternative proposals, saying the SNP did not “have the luxury of throwing our hands up and walking away”.
Tory councillor Thomas Kerr said it was “yet another day where Glaswegians will be asked to pay more and get less”.
He added: “Nicola Sturgeon is going, but her contemptuous attitude to councils looks set to continue in the SNP.”
Top SNP spin doctor Murray Foote replied to a picture of vacant Labour benches in the City Chambers with the comment: “When the going gets tough, the tough … flounce off and abandon their responsibilities. Labour demonstrating they are not fit to run a bath let alone a council.”
Defending the SNP budget, Bell said: “This is not the budget any of us would wish to deliver. But it is one which has gone a considerable distance to protect and maintain those services upon which our communities depend.”
He announced plans to raise council tax by 5% for 2023/24, meaning a Band D household will pay £1499, to bring in an extra £12m. The council will also take £6m from reserves.
That left £31.3m to be found through savings and increased charges. There will be £3m raised through increased parking and bus lane fines and £2m is expected to be brought in through the introduction of charges for garden and food waste permits.
On-street parking fees will rise “in line with Edinburgh levels” Bell said and there will be a cost increase for multiple residential parking permits.
The city treasurer added almost £1m would be saved through a review of bin service resources.
Opening hours will be reduced at Tramway and the Mitchell Library as well as swimming pools, while hire charges will be rolled out at peak times at outdoor tennis venues.
Bell said there would be no compulsory redundancies, teacher numbers would be protected and increased charges were “preferable to slashing services”.
