LOCAL GOVERNMENT: The Unite union has called on Nicola Sturgeon to intervene urgently to settle a row over a much-criticised pay offer to council workers.

Unite Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty said the offer made so far is “more like a slap in the face rather than a clap for local government workers.”

The union is recommending that its members reject the offer. Mr Rafferty said: “This just can’t be right … after a decade of local government being starved of funds.”