A FORMER Labour MSP has quit the party and moved to the SNP.

Councillor Anne McTaggart, who was re-elected in 2017 to represent the Anniesland and Drumchapel ward, has been thinking about leaving Labour for some time.

An official announcement likely to be made at Glasgow’s pro-independence rally by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and leader of Glasgow City Council Susan Aitken.

Sources say that the move was approved by the SNP’s National Executive Committee earlier this week but they did not feel it was appropriate for her to “cross the floor” at yesterday’s full council meeting.

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Speaking about the move councillor McTaggart said: “I really want to be part of something positive, something which works for the people of our city.

“The Labour party hasn’t done anything positive of note for a long time in Glasgow.

“Meanwhile, I’ve been watching the SNP delivering positive policies, both at a national and a city level, which are the right ones for my community.

“It’s now clear that independence is the only way forward for the people and the communities I’ve represented for over 10 years.

“It offers them the security and opportunity being eroded by Westminster.”

Leader of the council, Susan Aitken welcomed councillor McTaggart to the party.

She said: “Anne’s decision is an exceptionally brave one. It cannot have been easy.

“But the journey which Anne has made is one which many people across Scotland have been making over the past decade and particularly since 2014.

“She is part of a growing movement which sees that an independent Scotland is not only the best option for the future wellbeing our communities and our citizens, it is the only way to protect them from the chaos of Brexit and a broken Westminster system.”