THERE’S something rotten at the core of Glasgow’s politics.   

I love this city, its people and its beauty, being a Glaswegian is at the heart of everything I do, not just as a politician but also as a person. The motto Let Glasgow Flourish shouldn’t just be a slogan but an ethos for every serving politician and aspiring politician in this city.   

It is after all our job to make that motto become a reality.  

However, the City Chambers and the political establishment at the heart of it have badly let the amazing people of this city down for generations. We’ve seen scandals, cover-ups, corruption and bad behaviour from all sides, and yet those people somehow feel surprised when the public feel scunnered with us all.   

In recent weeks, we’ve seen stories hit the press about huge payoffs to former senior officials, with the current council leadership claiming not to have known a thing. These payoffs are scandalous amounts of money for a council that, to put it bluntly, is skint.  

The SNP since coming to power have slashed frontline services, raised council tax and recently sacked teachers to try balance up our books, yet officers of the council who make more than the Prime Minister thought it was acceptable to hand themselves golden packages which now has the council being investigated by an external auditor.   

This was the SNP that claimed they’d be different, they would shine a light on the dark corners of the Chambers, yet right under their nose this was taking place.   

It’s only fair I commend the current officers in their roles for handling this crisis correctly and doing what they must to tighten the rules to ensure this can’t happen again, but really? Is it any wonder Glaswegians feel scunnered?  

And, what of the “change” Glasgow’s main opposition group is offering. Well, as I write this column, it looks like voters in Glasgow North East will be heading to the polls once again after a mere 11 days since voting, because Glasgow Labour’s leadership decided to take incompetence to a whole new level. Their newly elected member looks to have been disqualified from elected office due to an “oversight” which will now cost taxpayers thousands to rerun the election.   

We shouldn’t be surprised though. Glasgow Labour’s arrogance and entitlement really never ceases to amaze me.   

It was their neglect and incompetence that underpaid working-class women across this city with their equal pay scandal, which this council will be paying back for years to come. When you add that alongside their support for the council’s shambolic Low Emission Zone and their constant belief that taxpayers are a cash cow, no wonder people are staying at home, it appears our choice in this city is between Tweedledee and Tweedledumb.   

I’ve written extensively over the years about how many communities, my own in Shettleston being one, feel left behind and abandoned by the political class and the by-election results have shown us that is coming home to roost.   

Glaswegians feel scunnered.   

They want common sense returned to the City Chambers with politicians who get it, and don’t get me wrong, I can name you councillors from all parties who do, the problem is the leadership of both Labour and the SNP are so useless they ruin all that good work.   

Glaswegians deserve better and either politicians must listen or they’ll face their anger at the ballot box.