SO CHRISTMAS is almost upon us.

It’s great to see Glasgow looking so festive. Maybe you’ve been to the ice skating or shows in George Square, had a wander round the winter market in St Enoch’s Square, or just smiled after looking at the lights up in areas all across Glasgow – come what may you’ll know there’s a buzz that says Glasgow knows how to do Christmas well.

Of course it wouldn’t be Christmas without ‘A Christmas Carol’ and Glasgow got it’s very own Scrooge through in Holyrood last week – in the shape of the SNP Finance Secretary John Swinney.

Last week he presented his Budget to the Scottish Parliament, setting out the Scottish Government’s spending plans for the year ahead and, surprise surprise, it’s Glaswegians that are taking a hit yet again.

Mr Swinney keeps telling us that Glasgow is getting the best of times.

His budget turned out to be the worst of times.

We were expecting cuts - over the next two years - of £121m.

After Scrooge spoke it was much worse than expected with cuts to the city budget of £10m more than that - a calamitous total of £131m.

That’s £131m lost to teach our school pupils, lost to providing social care services to those who need it across the city and lost to keeping our streets and neighbourhoods safe.

Decisions and choices that he didn’t have to make. It’s not on.

Mind you there is a sort of silver lining in all this because with every action the SNP government takes they are exposing the widening gulf between what they say and what they do.

They talk about being a ‘centre left social democratic’ party on their Twitter feed. Bah humbug - this was a Tory Budget.

No ifs no buts Swinney had delivered Tory cuts.

But don’t take my word for it - the Tory Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell told us: “The fact that John Swinney has decided to go with the broad thrust of George Osborne’s spending plans shows he recognises the difficult decisions the UK government has made are right”.

The London Times thundered, “Swinney passes on the agony to councils.”

It pointed out that John Swinn-borne, as we might call him now, was quick to complain about the Tories cutting his budget whilst at the same time he seems happy to inflict cuts of 3.5% on Scottish council budgets with a stroke of his pen.

A Times columnist said the Swinney budget exposed the SNP ‘socialist’ posing as a total sham.

COSLA turned on the Deputy first Minister when they said that whatever way the Scottish Government spin it this was an austerity budget which will be catastrophic for jobs, children in care, the elderly and vulnerable who rely on council provision.

What Glasgow really needs is a Scottish government prepared to stand up against the Tories savage budget cuts instead of saying ‘It wisnae me a big bad Tory done it and ran away’.

Glasgow needs a Scottish Government that recognises Glasgow is not getting a fair deal as things are.

And a Scottish Government that takes action to do something about that.

Merry Christmas John - ditch the George Osborne Tribute Band for all our sakes.

Today marks a year since the tragedy of the Queen Street bin lorry crash where six people lost their lives in the heart of our city.

I’m sure as we all prepare to finish up for the holidays our thoughts are with those who lost loved ones in the tragedy.

Their loss can never be made good.

No words will be able to wipe away their everlasting tears.

Hearts will be heavy today at the commemoration service in Glasgow Cathedral for those who perished.

I will be there to says prayers for the families that lost their loved ones.

But allow me to finish on some Christmas cheer.

The time to relax with family and friends is near.

I wish everyone well over this time and look forward to 2016 with a commitment to stand up for Glasgow and continue the job of taking our great city forward.

Merry Christmas.