STEWART PATERSON

Political Correspondent

The Liberal Democrats have launched their campaign for the council elections next month, claiming SNP and Green opponents will only fight for independence.

The party is standing in seat across Glasgow where it currently has only one councillor, Margo Clark, the only elected LibDem in the city.

The manifesto includes calls for greater say in education for head teachers and parents.

The LibDems want more money spent by and decisions taken at school level.

However the party still supports councils setting overall “standards and strategy”.

The Scottish party leader Willie Rennie said LibDem councillors would fight for local people and communities and accused others of only being interested in fighting for independence.

Mr Rennie said: “Liberal Democrats councillors have a powerful track record of delivering for local communities across Scotland. They are local champions. They work all year round, not just at election time.

“Unlike the SNP and the Greens we will put local communities first, not another divisive independence referendum. With Liberal Democrats you get a champion for your area not a cheerleader for independence.”

The manifesto pledges to support building thousands more socially rented homes with funding coming from alternative sources like pensions funds.

It wants to support local high streets and convert empty shops into multi use hubs for community use and by public bodies or turn them into homes where possible.

The party said it wants to invest in roads with cash going to ensure better quality repairs to avoid spending money patching up the same roads time after time.

The LibDems are looking to recover from a backlash following the 2010 coalition with the Conservatives.

After suffering heavy defeats at the last two Scottish Elections, in 2011 and 2016 as well as at Westminster in 2015 and in the previous council polls in 2012 the LibDems insist they are seeing a revival.

The manifesto states The LibDems are “on the rise again” and Mr Rennie is optimistic about their chances on May 4.

He added: “We are contesting more wards than five years ago, and are looking to win more seats. The campaign this May builds on the party’s record-breaking wins in council by-elections since the last general election, gaining more than 30 seats across the UK, including from the SNP in Scotland.”