Scotland’s largest council is to examine the economic impact of a Yes vote in the independence referendum.
Glasgow City Council has approved a Labour motion recognising that independence “could have a significant impact on the economic environment which local government operates in”.
The motion by council leader Gordon Matheson states: “As a responsible local authority with long-term plans for the city, it behoves that the council examines how independence would affect its ability to provide services, should Scotland secede.
“Consequently, the council calls on the chief executive to conduct an assessment of what the financial impact would be in the event of Scotland becoming an independent nation-state.”
Last week, Mr Matheson said independence could have a “disastrous” impact on jobs, that there is a “climate of fear” among businesses and that there would be a “massive impact” on employment.
Jobs could be lost at shipyards while business tourism could also suffer, Mr Matheson said.
Labour was re-elected in the city last May in a victory Mr Matheson hailed as “the most sensational in the history of Glasgow City Council” which “sent the SNP juggernaut rolling into a ditch”.