ANAS Sarwar has been criticised for claiming Glasgow council leader Susan Aitken has been in charge of a "branch office" of the SNP during the pandemic.

The Scottish Labour leader said Aitken has been "posted missing" since the UK went into lockdown in March last year.

Speaking to the Daily Record, he said: “Can you imagine if we had a leader in Glasgow that fought for Glasgow the way that Andy Burnham fights for Greater Manchester?

“Who is fighting on behalf of Glasgow to get fair funding for our public services, to get a fair deal for Glasgow workers, and to get adequate financial support for our businesses? No one.

“We have a council leader who has been posted missing, that is nowhere to be seen, and is acting as a subordinate of the Scottish Government, rather than a leader for Glasgow. And frankly that’s not good enough."

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The Scottish Parliament election result in May saw Anas Sarwar's group return its smallest number of MSPs since devolution.

Sarwar denied Scottish Labour is a branch office of of the UK party, saying: “The Glasgow SNP is a branch office of the SNP across the country. They do what they are telt.

“They don’t challenge, they don’t fight Glasgow’s corner. Where is that recovery plan for Glasgow? You would expect the administration in Glasgow to be driving that agenda, rather than being passengers in that agenda. Not waiting for orders from up high.”

Sarwar praised Greater Manchester mayor Burnham for asking the UK Government to provide £65 million after Boris Johnson overruled local leaders to put the area into tier three of Covid restrictions.

“When Glasgow was put into further restrictions, what happened to the shouting for the extra support? It didn’t happen," Sarwar added.

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An SNP Glasgow council spokesperson criticised Sarwar's comments, saying: “This would be entirely laughable from the branch office manager of the party which has given the Tories a total free ride in their shambolic handling of the pandemic were Labour’s ineptitude not so serious.

“As well as convening and chairing Glasgow’s economic recovery taskforce and securing an additional £770,000 for our businesses, Susan has been leading on the plans for the long-term green recovery and transformation of the UK’s cities with other city leaders, including Andy Burnham.

“Now that Anas has moved on from his shtick about ‘needing a new politics’ maybe he’d like to discuss ours, such as our pioneering anti-child poverty initiatives or delivering equal pay, an issue he was posted missing on for many many years.

“In the meantime Susan will get on with the serious business of running the city and not a pal’s party leadership campaign.”

Aitken has been contacted for comment.