LABOUR councils must “stop using the language of management,” Scotland’s most outspoken left-wing local government leader told an anti-austerity conference this weekend.

North Ayrshire council leader Joe Cullinane said politicians who oppose austerity must reject attempts to rebrand attacks on public services.

“The first thing we need to do is stop using the language of management,” he told a People’s Assembly Scotland conference on Saturday. “We need to stop talking about savings and efficiencies, and start talking about cuts.”