GLASGOW needs accelerated investment to cope with an expected Brexit downturn, council and business leaders have said.

A delegation from the city of council leader, Frank McAveety, Chamber of commerce chief executive Stuart Patrick, and Jim McDonald principal of Strathclyde University is meeting today with Mike Russell, the Scottish government minister for Brexit talks.

They are outlining their main objective which is major City Deal building projects like the rail link to the airport to be brought forward.

Also requested is the UK and Scottish Governments to transfer surplus land to the council to start house building projects.

Before meeting Mr Russell, the trio will brief MSPs across different parties on how Brexit is expected to impact on Glasgow and what governments can do to help combat any economic adversity.

A key point is also ensuring the millions of pounds in EU structural funds that come to the city is matched by governments.

Mr McAveety said: “Glasgow clearly has key strengths and a broad economic base, which if properly supported by the Scottish and UK governments, can continue to thrive but we need to action from them sooner rather than later.

“We are aware of the challenges that Brexit will bring but we are also confident that if we can work successfully with the Scottish Government those challenges can be overcome. It’s time now for promises made to the city by the Scottish Government to be made good.”

The leaders are looking for guarantees of support from the Scottish Government

A report from the council, Chamber of Commerce and Economic Leadership board has been submitted to the Scottish Government’s Brexit Standing Committee.

The main requests are for EU funding worth £790m across Scotland to be matched, capital infrastructure projects to be accelerated, land to be released, rates relief on new office developments not fully let, research funding to me matched and collaboration between city and government on skills development.

The panel compiling the report included Jim McColl, of Clyde Blowers, Amanda McMillan of Glasgow airport and representatives from the NHS, Scottish Power, St Enoch Centre, Weir Group, Tesco Bank and glaxosmithKline.

The report called for both governments to implement policies to grow the Glasgow economy to allow Brexit’s economic challenges to be met.