A campaign to erect a statue to honour one of Glasgow's pioneering female socialist has reached the Scottish Parliament.

Glasgow Labour MSP Anne McTaggart has submitted a motion in support of plans to create a memorial to "working class hero" Mary Barbour.

Former MP Maria Fyfe launched the campaign to erect a statue of Glasgow's first female Labour councillor by 2015, potentially in the city's George Square.

Mary Barbour, who was born in Kilbarchan but lived in Govan in the early 1900s, fought against steep rent rises during the First World War, leading to a law restricting the power of private landlords.

She also pushed for welfare benefits, including free milk for schoolchildren, pensions for mothers, municipal banks, wash houses, laundries and public baths and the city's first family- planning clinic.

In the motion Anne McTaggart's praises her achievements and expresses concern "that very few women are honoured by monuments in Scotland."

She said: "Mary Barbour was – and remains to this day – an absolute inspiration.

"Not only was she the first female councillor for the Labour party in Glasgow, but she worked exceptionally hard for the people of this city before, during and after her time as acouncillor."

Her motion has received cross-party support from MSPs.

Renfrewshire Council has also backed the campaign, honouring Mary's Kilbarchan roots.

Councillor Derek Bibby and Chris Gilmour, whose wards cover Kilbarchan, have submitted a motion to council calling for greater recognition for the achievements of the "Renfrewshire-born pioneer".

More than £1200 has already been gifted to the campaign for a statue.

For more information about the campaign go to http://remembermarybarbour.wordpress.com/

caroline.wilson@eveningtimes.co.uk