SNP told to 'hang heads in shame' as Labour savages Glasgow's 'largest fire and rehire in history'

From the Newshound archive · first published 26 September 2026 · last updated 28 September 2026.

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander used his Labour conference speech in Liverpool to tear into the SNP-run Glasgow City Council, which threatened to sack and rehire 23,000 workers last week before being forced to back down within 24 hours. New Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra, in his first conference address, called it 'the largest fire and rehire in British history' and said the pause 'isn't good enough'. The council's botched plan was triggered by collapsed equal pay talks and a looming January deadline, after which Labour's new law will ban the practice except in cases of severe financial difficulty. Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth confirmed she personally ordered the council to halt the dismissal letters.

Domestic abuse workers at Assist face £11,500 pay cuts under the council's new grading scheme, which rated their role as needing only 30 minutes of attention at a time.

Workers warned that the cuts — on salaries of around £45,000 — will drive skilled staff out, leaving high-risk domestic abuse victims at greater danger of homicide.

The equal pay row has already cost Glasgow £770 million, with Alexander warning the city is now 'miles behind' — 32nd for economic productivity among UK cities.