The Chancellor, George Osborne, has agreed to meet with people from the south of Glasgow to look at funding to make the area a tourist destination.

Mr Osborne announced £5m cash towards the restoration of the Burrell Collection in Pollok in his Autumn Statement and has said he is willing to fund other ideas.

Stewart McDonald Glasgow South SNP MP welcomed the cash for the Burrell and asked the Chancellor if he would go further and meet with people who have ideas to boost the area’s economy by attracting more visitors.

The MP wants the south side to be as attractive as the city centre and the west end to boost the economy and create jobs.

Mr McDonald hopes to persuade the Chancellor to come to the south of the city and see projects and meet people working on ideas to make improvements

He said: “I would like the Chancellor to come her, even if it is just to see the Burrell Collection.

I would like him to meet people here who are serious about trying to improve the south side as a counter to the city centre and west end in terms of culture, heritage shopping and tourism.”

He said he will be speaking to local groups about what they could ask the Chancellor for money to help with.

HE added: “The south side is not just about Shawlands and we have many attractions like Pollok House, Cathkin Braes, Hampden Park, the Southside Heritage Trail and many examples of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson architecture, but it is not marketed enough.”

Mr Osborne said: “I am very happy to meet the hon. Gentleman and, indeed, anyone he wants to bring with him. If there are sensible projects in Glasgow that we can fund, we will of course look at them.”

He said funding didn’t stop with the Block Grant and the Barnett Formula and would consider projects put to him.

He added: “That is why we have the city deal and why we are supporting the Burrell Collection. If he has some other good ideas, we will be able to fund them too.”