Call me old fashioned but I’m proud of what’s been delivered recently by the city council concerning Glasgow’s economic future. In collaboration with the Glasgow Economic Leadership and the city’s Chamber of Commerce we produced what has been acknowledged as the best Brexit Report of any city in Britain.

In November at the State of the City Economy conference we published Glasgow’s Economic Strategy pledged 50,000 new jobs in the next seven years. Finally, a matter of days ago, the City Region Deal was promoted which is probably the most advanced plan for any city region in Scotland.

Contrast this with last week’s economic prognosis for Glasgow delivered by the opposition SNP. Laughably the SNP declared proudly that in their deliberations they had been advised by Scotrail. So it’s no surprise that their programme was well behind time and didn’t make the right choices about investing in the future. By comparison Labour is ahead of the curve, certainly knows the destination it wants to reach for the city and has a plan for the city that’s bold enough and ambitious enough to get there.

Given that maybe it’s time let some facts speak for themselves. In 2014, Glasgow was the fastest growing major city economy in the UK, with 7% growth – twice the rate of cities such as Liverpool or Manchester. The city currently generates over £19bn of economic output, making us the economic powerhouse of Scotland without challenge.

Two years ago Glasgow signed the largest City Deal of its kind – bringing in over £1.13billion of investment to the city and its surrounding areas. That investment will guarantee 35,000 new jobs in the city in the next five years.

It might also be worth noting that Glasgow’s high tech industry was recently analysed as worth £480m a year which is bigger than that of Dundee and Edinburgh put together. Proof positive, if it is needed, that Glasgow is a city well up for the challenges of the 21st century.

In fact Glasgow’s economic achievements have already been recognized across Europe. In 2016 Glasgow was named European Entrepreneurial Region of the Year, by the European Union - only the second city in history to receive this award which is usually reserved for much larger city regions.

But Glasgow’s achievements are all the more impressive when you consider that all this has been achieved with the city having its ‘arms tied behind its back.’ Since the SNP came to power in Holyrood almost ten years ago, the added-up cuts to Glasgow’s budget come to more than £350m. Or to put it another way, for these ten years of cuts Nicola Sturgeon owes every ward in the city some fifteen million quid.

Labour is standing up for the city unlike the “Yes Nicola” councillors in the SNP’s ranks. Our People’s Budget put forward bold plans for cleansing, child care and communities in contrast the Edinburgh government’s delivery of cuts cuts cuts. If you take cleansing as one example we are investing in Glasgow by putting money into more neighbourhood teams to clean up the city to the tune of £6m. On top everyone living in a flat will soon be getting a new bin and a better collection service which is costing £6.5m. Labour has listened to the people. Our People’s Budget proves that.

Now since I started talking up Glasgow I’ll finish in the same way. You might not know this but in the average week music lovers in the city can choose from more than 130 live events – that’s more than any other city in the UK outside London. Think about it - Glasgow second to London for live music in the UK. The council sponsored SSE Hydro is ranked number 3 in the Top Arena Venues in the world. And the latest clincher – BBC Radio 6 Music Festival for 2017 will be in Glasgow 24-26 March.

I’m told that the whole event is heading for a complete sell out. No wonder when among the headliners are Goldfrapp, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Belle & Sebastian, Sparks, Sleaford Mods, and The Lemon Twigs. There will be a DJ set from James Lavelle (UNKLE) on Sunday night just before Depeche Mode take the stage at one of the world’s most loved music venues – the Barrowlands. I can almost ‘People are People’ right now, because as you know People Make Glasgow.