John Swinney has promised to hand new powers over skills, planning and economic development to Glasgow as he backed calls for more devolution to the city and surrounding area.

Speaking to the State of the City Economy conference at the Old Fruitmarket, the First Minister said Glasgow City Region—Scotland’s largest city and its seven surrounding council areas—had “shown what is possible” through joint working.

He vowed to introduce “enabling legislation” after May’s Holyrood election to allow regional partnerships to secure formal legal status and take on new responsibilities from national agencies.

The SNP leader also rubbished Labour’s plans for directly elected Mayors, but praised a report commissioned by the party on regional economic development.

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