Scottish Labour Leader, Anas Sarwar, addressed cuts to services in West Dunbartonshire whilst on the by-election campaign trail.

Sarwar was in Hardgate on Tuesday, November 26, to join the party's candidate, William Rooney, on his campaign trail ahead of the Kilpatrick by-election.

Sitting in Hardgate Cafe on Rockbank Place, Sarwar said he didn't blame local councillors for the 'difficult decisions' they have to make amid 'financial hardship'.

He said: "There are local authorities, whether they are Labour ones or SNP ones or any other political parties, that are having to make really difficult decisions because of the failure of the Scottish Government to properly fund local government and to properly respect local democracy.

"There are difficult decisions made across lots of local authorities and given we now have the decisive end of austerity and £5 billion of additional money now available to the Scottish Government.

"They have now got to deliver a fair funding deal for local councils and a fair funding deal for West Dunbartonshire so that difficult decisions aren't what councillors can focus on, but instead councillors can focus on rebuilding their communities, providing not just statutory services but actually regeneration and growth."

It comes after we reported that West Dunbartonshire Council sold more than £600k worth of assets, including a community centre, to fill in funding gaps and 'retain jobs'.

Councillors have described the authority as 'on its knees' as the cash-strapped council begs for more funding.

Sarwar also responded to the shift in politics of the council after two formerly Labour councillors quit the party in August this year.

An SNP councillor was elected as Lord Provost, which is usually held by a councillor from the largest party, after the Labour group lost two members which caused their resignation of leadership.

Since then the party has taken up the mantle again with a minority administration.

READ MORE: Your candidates for the Kilpatrick by-election this week

The Scottish Labour Leader says a new labour councillor will help strengthen the leadership of the council.

He said: "I would much rather our local authorities and local councillors continue to work together to deliver for the local community. That's what the Labour group in West Dunbartonshire has been doing and will continue to seek to do.

"I'm sure a new addition, will only strengthen that dynamic and hopefully strengthen delivery for people here."

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government has made available record funding of over £14 billion to councils this year, a real-terms increase on last year, with almost £1 billion included in councils’ general revenue grant as part of our commitment to the Verity House Agreement.

“This agreement is already helping to deliver on community priorities, with joint work between the Scottish Government and COSLA on local government pay, second homes and support for foster and kinship carers.

“Ministers are invested in delivering fairer, more inclusive, and fiscally sustainable forms of local taxation, and continue to work in partnership with COSLA to explore changes to Council Tax.”

The Kilpatrick by-election will be held on Thursday, November 28.

Voting will get underway from 7am with polling places remaining open until the vote closes at 10pm.

The count will take place immediately after the polls close, with a declaration as soon as possible thereafter.