A FURTHER resignation from Labour and a stinging parting shot from a de-selected councillor have overshadowed one of the most significant budgets to be delivered in Glasgow for many years.

With party "rebels" understood to be meeting last night to discuss using today's budget as a platform to rally against Glasgow's Labour leadership, long-standing councillor Anne Marie Millar yesterday quit in order to stand as an independent candidate in May's municipal elections.

The Govanhill councillor, long considered to be a party loyalist, was among those who had been de-selected by Labour but her decision to quit now has stunned many of her former colleagues who expected Millar to see out her term quietly.

She said: "The final straw came when I realised I was being treated as a second-class councillor by the leadership.

"My decision actually comes from people across my multi-member ward encouraging me to stand again.

"I will be at the budget and vote whatever I think is best for my constituents, who live in an area with many, many challenges."

Details also emerged of the resignation letter from Andy Muir to council leader Gordon Matheson, in which he complains of the "control freakery and bullying culture" in Glasgow Labour and says that he too intends to run as an independent.

He states: "Glasgow's future is at stake and I for one want to make it a better place to work, live and play in.

"I feel that the Labour Party under your leadership is not likely to make this happen.

"In all honesty I now find myself unable to share any of your views."

The budget being delivered today will see spending plans laid out for around £2.3 billion for the next year. But the authority needs to make cuts of £43 million in the next financial year, most of which was agreed last year.

The budget comes less than three months ahead of what is being billed as the most important local government election in Glasgow in generations.

Labour is having to face up to the realistic possibility that it could be unseated for the first time since the 1970s.

A number of Labour councillors de-selected by the party are expected to vote against their party's plans but although there have been attempts this week to pull together an opposition budget and force a coup against the administration, this has been half-hearted and is unlikely to succeed.