IT has become apparent the military assaults on Ukraine by Russia will not be coming to an early end.

The grim and tragic reality is that the terror unfolding this past fortnight is likely to intensify as Vladimir Putin pushes for the total capitulation of Ukraine. The relentless shelling and air strikes on Ukrainian cities has now thrust the grave danger to millions of ordinary civilians to the top of the international agenda. A major humanitarian crisis is growing across Europe.

In the face of this aggression and military might, the courage of Ukrainians in defending their sovereignty, nationhood, families and themselves has been incredible. They deserve all of our support. The outpouring of concern and solidarity for Ukraine by Glaswegians is as expected as it is humbling and, indeed, necessary.

At the time of writing, the Disasters Emergency Committee in Scotland has secured donations of around £10 million in just a few days, support which will provide emergency aid such as medical and hygiene supplies, blankets and food to growing numbers of refugees and displaced people.

The UNHCR estimates the number of people fleeing Ukraine to already be in excess of 1.5 million, which could grow to four million as the conflict escalates.

On Saturday I joined hundreds of protesters showing their solidarity with Ukraine in George Square and had the privilege to speak. My message then was as it is now: the UK Government is simply not doing enough to assist those fleeing this unprovoked war.

Right now, the number of Ukrainian refugees in the UK is barely out of double figures. Meanwhile, hundreds of Ukrainians in French ports and seeking sanctuary in the UK are being instructed by the UK Government to travel to Paris for visas. Surely to goodness, in what is shaping up as the biggest crisis in Europe since the Second World War, the paperwork can be sorted once the refugees arrive.

Compare this with the flexible, proportionate, and compassionate response of many of our European neighbours. Much has been made of Ireland’s response but it’s worth repeating. Like us, a small nation on the edge of western Europe yet one which has welcomed more than 1300 Ukrainians so far and is expected to open the door to a further 80,000. At the first time of asking, Boris’s Brexit Britain has been found seriously wanting.

Meanwhile, here in Scotland we are making preparations to welcome Ukrainians. The Scottish Government is working with local councils through COSLA to ensure that as and when refugees arrive we are ready to provide accommodation and appropriate support. Glasgow has for a long time stood with our doors open to refugees and we’ll do that again. For anyone who comes from Ukraine, we will find a home for you here in Glasgow.

It has been important for this city to take a stance on Russia’s actions from the outset and, as Glasgow Times readers may already be aware, we suspended our twin city relationship with the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. This may seem a small gesture, but it was nonetheless important.

It would have sent the complete wrong message for Glasgow to continue to be twinned with a city which has been a launchpad for attacks on Ukraine in 2014 and is so again, a city run by Putin’s United Russia party, and which has played its part in nurturing the propaganda used to justify these ongoing acts of war. I feel for the ordinary people of Rostov impacted by this conflict, as I do for the millions of Russians here and at home opposed to this war.

But at this juncture it is difficult, if not impossible, to maintain civic links with Russia. And it was important that the Ukrainian community in Glasgow and across Scotland knew where we stood.

Glaswegians are now asking what practical support the council can do to complement that which citizens have been providing through organisations such as the Disasters Emergency Committee. We have been in contact with both DEC Scotland and the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain about what logistical assistance and help-in-kind we may be able to provide. Between now and Full Council at the end of the month we will be exploring other avenues of support which we can take a collective decision on. I hope that some concrete offers of assistance will emerge in the days ahead. Glasgow stands with Ukraine.

THIS week, Glasgow will reach another milestone in settling Labour’s historic pay discrimination against many thousands of low-paid female workers.

If, as expected, we secure committee approval, officers will begin making settlement offers to representatives of former and current members of staff who were not part of the 2019 agreement.

Back then, we settled around £500m worth of claims with close to 15,000 women who had been short-changed by previous Labour administrations. This phase involves a considerably smaller number who did not meet the cut-off date for the 2019 deal and is expected to cost around £30m.

Both the City Council and claimants’ representatives knew back then we would have to go through a fresh round of negotiations to ensure those women received the money they were due. Unfortunately, the pandemic delayed this but if agreed tomorrow we can start making offers straight away.

There is still a bit to go before we can finally close the book on this shameful chapter. Again, as agreed with claimant representatives, once this phase is resolved we’ll move to address liabilities emerging from “the gap period” from 2019, whilst at the same time replacing the discriminatory pay and grading system. This too has been held up by Covid but should be ready for implementation next year.

To be clear, the burden of Labour’s pay discrimination is a heavy one for Glasgow. And will be for several decades to come. But it doesn’t require us to flog off the city’s prized assets. Whilst there are many things we could prioritise for Glaswegians with the hundreds of millions of pounds this is costing the city, pay equality is the right thing to do. It is giving back people what they were denied. But we should never have been in this situation in the first place. This is the price of Glasgow Labour.