THE leader of Glasgow City Council is being lined up as a candidate for the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections, The Evening Times understands.

Gordon Matheson, a loyal supporter of beleaguered Scots party boss Jim Murphy, is expected to be found a slot on the city's regional list having led the council since mid-2010.

He had been earmarked by the party leadership to head the Glasgow list but last week's Westminster disaster for Labour has led to the plans being reassessed, with one or two deposed MPs now touted as being given top billing.

Mr Matheson has refused to confirm or deny the claims, saying he was focused on "serving the people of Glasgow".

If successful, the move would see a change at the top of the authority going into the local government elections in 2017.

However, for the first time in several years Glasgow City Council has been awash with chatter about its leadership, with some openly discussing their desire for a new regime.

The Herald understands one party grandee in the city was openly criticising Mr Matheson over the weekend, with one councillor boasting of being able to carry a bloc of 10 colleagues if a leadership challenge was mounted.

Another has told The Herald of their willingness to stand as a stalking horse candidate if a credible challenger was in the wings.

However, even critics of Mr Matheson have cast doubt on any benefits on a council coup in the wake of Thursday's Westminster wipeout.

A meeting lasting nearly hours of city councillors yesterday was described as "incredibly sombre", with varying views on Mr Murphy's leadership aired.

It comes as Labour holds internal discussions around the appointment of a 'caretaker leader', with a view to protecting deputy leader Kezia Dugdale, who many see as the party's future.

One idea being promoted is for Ms Dugdale to take over after the next Holyrood election rather than shouldering the blame for an anticipated poor performance.

Ahead of a visit to Scotland next week, Ms Harman, who is acting UK leader since the departure of Mr Miliband, has refused to back her former frontbench colleague to stay on.

A spokeswoman for Ms Harman said: "Harriet thinks Jim stepped up at a time and did a great job in very difficult circumstances.

"Problems in Scotland are deep rooted and decisions about how to go forward should be a matter for the Scottish party.

"She is keen to go up there next week and meet with colleagues including Jim."

It has also emerged Midlothian Constituency Labour Party is set to hold a vote of no confidence on Mr Murphy's leadership next week.

Alex Bennett, a Labour councillor in Dalkeith, said he expected other local branches across the country to follow if Mr Murphy survives the weekend as leader. He said he has written to his representatives on the Scottish Executive Committee, asking them to vote against Mr Murphy on Saturday.

He said: "His position is untenable as far as I'm concerned. His decision to stay is ripping the Labour Party apart. If you were a football manager and played 40 matches and got beat 10-0 every game you'd expect to go. That's his position, it's a total wipeout.

"The bongo drums are going all across Scotland among the grassroots, all the voices I'm hearing want him to go."

One senior Glasgow source said: "Jim's position is precarious if not untenable. He's not the cause of the problems but he's a huge part. People don't buy him or his approach and even solid party loyalists want him to go.

"Everyone's looking over their own shoulder, MSPs, councillors, candidates. Jim going at least says things are changing."

Mr Matheson said: ""Being leader of Glasgow City Council is a huge job and an enormous honour. Serving the people of Glasgow is my priority and that's what I'm focussed on."