Douglas Alexander: SNP has short-changed Glasgow by £357 million

Glasgow has been short-changed by hundreds of millions of pounds over the last decade and should be given Manchester-style powers to turn things around, the Scottish Secretary will say today. Douglas Alexander, who was born in Glasgow, will say it "hurts" to see what has happened to parts of the city. Speaking at the Scottish Co-operative Party conference in Govan, the senior Labour minister will accuse the SNP of squeezing local government finances.

“Glasgow has been short-changed by £357 million since 2014,” he will say. “The [UK] block grant has increased, but local government finances have been constrained. Had Glasgow City Council's core budget matched that rate of growth, the council would have £357 million more to spend.” It comes after Andy Burnham said he did not want to see Scotland “left out” of his plans for further devolution to England’s city regions. The Prime Minister insisted he and John Swinney can “find a way of working together for Scotland's benefit” despite their differences on independence.

The First Minister told reporters there was “an alignment” in their aspirations for local and regional government. Mr Swinney has already announced plans for wide-ranging council reform. "The Prime Minister isn't just an advocate of devolution, he's a practitioner of it,” Mr Alexander will tell the Co-Operative Party conference. “In Manchester he took real powers over transport, skills and growth, and used them. The result is a city region with a plan and the clout to deliver it.

That's what we need here in Glasgow.” He will add: "You can't demand power from London and then hoard it from Glasgow. Devolution was never meant to stop at the doors of Holyrood." Mr Alexander will say he is “proud” to have been born in Glasgow. “This is a city that built ships for the world and helped build the co-operative movement,” he will say. “It's a city of real talent, world-class universities and a warmth you won't find anywhere else.

People really do make Glasgow. "That's why it hurts to see what has happened to parts of it. Walk out of Central Station and you'll see the gap where Union Corner stood for 175 years. On too many high streets, the shutters are down. Too many of our young people look at a departures board and see a better future than the one they're offered at home.” The Scottish Secretary will say No10 North will now facilitate a "policy sprint" with the UK and Scottish governments on regional devolution and reindustrialisation.

He will add: "We'll go on disagreeing about independence, but that's no excuse for failing to cooperate on what matters to families from Easterhouse to Peterhead. South of the border, the train is leaving the station. Glasgow can't be left on the platform.” He will also highlight Centre for Cities analysis showing the Glasgow City Region is underperforming by £7 billion a year, along with the eight-year wait for the Clyde Metro. "Glasgow should be miles better, not £7 billion behind,” Mr Alexander will say.

“Glasgow shouldn't have to wait for a bus, a Metro or Holyrood's permission. “It's time to end Holyrood-knows-best and start trusting the people who know Glasgow best. That means a real say for our regions over skills, transport, housing and investment." He will add: “People make Glasgow, so give people the power. Give them a real stake in their homes, their energy and their high streets. Manchester has shown what's possible. Now it's Glasgow's turn."

The Co-operative Party is linked to Labour by a long-standing electoral agreement, and many politicians, including Mr Alexander and Mr Burnham, are members of both. SNP Public Service Reform Secretary Ivan McKee said: “The Secretary of State appears to be calling for something that he knows is already happening. “The First Minister has been clear that he will work with the Prime Minister to devolve more powers from Westminster to Scotland.

“He confirmed earlier this week that the process of reform which the Scottish government announced months ago, and we are taking forward in discussion with local government through the current extensive engagement, will see more powers given to local government at a regional level to drive economic growth and empower communities. “We agree with the Prime Minister that Westminster does not work for people in Scotland. That is why we want to see more decisions taken by people here, rather than by Westminster.”