ONLY a vote for Scottish Labour will help protect vital public services, party leader Anas Sarwar said today, following public outrage against the SNP for allowing library closures across Glasgow.

SNP-controlled Glasgow City Council has faced widespread criticism for its decision not to reopen five libraries, 37 sports facilities and 17 community centres and public halls.

Mr Sarwar warned that community closures will go “well beyond Glasgow,” with data showing that spending on libraries across Scotland has been cut by a third since 2010.

Plans to replace the Whiteinch and Maryhill libraries with “pop-ups” in nearby community centres have caused outrage, with a petition to save them gaining thousands of signatures. 

The Scottish Labour leader warned that closures in Glasgow reflect a wider picture across the country, with library funding having fallen in real terms by more than £37 million over the past decade. 

Speaking ahead of next week’s Scottish Parliament election, Mr Sarwar said: “This is the worst possible time to close libraries, just as we’re trying to restart children’s education and embark on the biggest catch-up programme in our history.

“We know that many children rely on libraries for access to the internet and digital devices. By closing libraries at the heart of communities, the SNP risks freezing thousands of children out of access to digital devices and the services and opportunities that they offer.

“Across Scotland, the SNP has slashed funding for local authorities, with spending on libraries down a third in nine years.

“For a parliament focused on our national recovery, use both votes to back Scottish Labour.”