The leader of Glasgow City Council has waded into the EU referendum debate by claiming that staying in Europe is in the best interests of both the city and the UK as a whole.

Labour's Frank McAveety said he is putting his "full support" behind the Scotland Stronger in Europe campaign, which is urging Scots to vote to stay in the European Union in June's referendum.

Mr McAveety, who leads Scotland's largest local authority, said he sees "the benefits of being part of the EU on a daily basis".

He said: "Much of our work to encourage business and regeneration is underpinned by European funding.

"The ties and contacts made with our European neighbours provide further benefits still.

"Another of our priorities is creating jobs in the city.

"Many of the workers' rights we enjoy - paid holidays, equal rights for part-time workers and maternity and paternity leave - are enshrined in EU law."

He continued: "The risks and uncertainties associated with Brexit should not be underestimated.

"Uncertainty is bad for any economy, creating difficulties for public services like the NHS and education, and threatening the support and rights we currently enjoy.

"Last week, Glasgow City Council analysed a non-political paper which explored possible outcomes should the UK vote to leave.

"The cross-party consensus was clear; it is better for Glasgow and better for the UK to remain part of the European Union.

"I believe that it is in Glasgow's interests for the UK to remain in the EU.

"I therefore have no hesitations putting my full support behind Scotland Stronger in Europe."

A spokesman for the Scotland Stronger In Europe campaign said: "It's good news that Glasgow looks like being an 'In city'.

"Being in the European Union helps deliver social justice and economic prosperity.

"Civic leaders across the parties have studied the facts and come to the clear conclusion that staying in Europe is the right choice for Glasgow and Scotland."

A spokesman for Scottish Vote Leave said: "Frank McAveety ignores the real problems the EU creates in Glasgow and continues to use scare stories which have been dismissed by his own side.

"Inside the EU we can't control our borders which means continued uncontrolled migration putting huge pressure on our schools and hospitals. Staying in the EU means longer housing waiting lists for people in Glasgow, more pressure on the NHS in Glasgow and lower wages for people right across the city.

"Outside the EU we would have more control over our own affairs, we would have more powers for the Scottish Parliament, we would have an extra £30m a week to spend on services in Scotland, enough to hire nearly 1400 new nurses, and we would be able to stop spending millions paying for the free tuition of EU students which should be spent on Scottish students instead.

"If we Vote Leave we can spend our money on our priorities. We would be able to control our borders and our future."