OVER the weekend I’ve been rummaging through a mountain of boxes in the loft to find a few of my old favourite books. This week is ‘Book Week Scotland” so I’m in preparation mode.

For me, a lifelong love of reading began in Springburn, with my first library card. It seems incredible that something so simple could lead to a boundless world of information, learning and entertainment. I still have that original card now. I look on it as the key to my own education which led to my becoming an English teacher before the world of politics took over.

I’ll be back in school this week - in St Philomena’s Primary, to be exact. Parents will be relieved to learn I’ll not be introducing Primary 2 to any of the well-worn James Ellroy crime paperbacks I got out the garage. Instead I’ll be introducing P2 to the joys of “The Smartest Giant in Town” by Julia Donaldson.

It’s great to visit city schools to marvel at the difference a good school can make to any community in the city. Ten years ago, a little over one in six of Glasgow’s school leavers went on to higher education – today, more than one in three take that step. When you include those going taking up apprenticeships or training more of our young people are leaving school with great prospects than ever before. That’s turning the page to a new future and how.

Glasgow’s Labour council has played its part. We’ve redeemed our pledge from the last council elections to make our schools the best in the country. Since 2012 some £250m has been spent on building new primary schools or rebuilding others. That’s a revolution in primaries that has followed the one which transformed our secondary school estate. I think the total spend on both is more than £600m.

This city faces great challenges. We know that. But our schools, our teachers and – more than anyone – our young people are up for it.

Making a difference is what we are about so let me tell you about the Wee Glasgow Loan. Earlier this month the council worked with city credit unions - led by Pollok and BCD Credit Unions - to set up a special system of cheap loans for folk who need help with money. Since the launch, on the 8th of November, 2300 Glaswegians have signed up for low cost loans, borrowing more than half a million pounds in total.

That’s 2300 folk out of the clutches of the high street pay-day lenders. That’s 2300 people not paying the Wonga’s of this world APR’s that can run to more than 1500%. The Wee Glasgow Loan has an APR of 26%. That’s 2% a month compared to 300% for some of the pay-day vultures. Need some cash to get through Christmas - www.weeglasgowloan.scot.

Glasgow’s 19th State of the City Economy Conference takes place on Friday. It will focus on jobs, skills and improving the health of Glaswegians. We expect that more than 700 of the city’s leading business

people, academics and innovators will attend.

Glasgow has delivered some remarkable milestones in recent years. In 2014 we were the fastest growing city in the UK, our digital wealth is worth more than Edinburgh and Dundee put together, and we currently stand at number three nationwide for commercial property development.

So we are right to have a bold vision for the future of our city’s economy built upon our greatest asset – the people of Glasgow. Nonetheless we are also aware of the great tests that face the city. Most notably Brexit.

Early in October the City Council along with the Chamber of Commerce and the Glasgow Economic Leadership Board published our report on the impact of Brexit on the city. In it we said that Brexit will confront Glasgow with daunting challenges. But we also said that these can be overcome if Glasgow is assisted in the fight by the Scottish and UK governments.

I’ll be delighted to welcome the Scottish Secretary of State, David Mundell, as the keynote speaker at the conference. He’ll be there to hear Glasgow’s case. Hopefully he’ll offer the UK Government’s guarantee to make Glasgow flourish in the face of whatever Brexit may bring. Glasgow awaits Mr Mundell. We have made great strides in recent years. Let’s continue that progress to deliver the growth and jobs our city needs.