THE People’s Assembly Against Austerity (PA) demanded Scottish politicians protect local communities yesterday as councils planned millions in cuts to jobs and services.

It has vowed to lobby councillors and MPs to challenge poverty and austerity policies.

“Across Scotland we see councils reorganising, cutting jobs and front-line services and hiking charges but nowhere do we see councillors saying they will resist cuts to the services they were elected to protect,” said PA Scotland chairman Phil McGarry.

“Forty thousand jobs have been lost in Scottish local government in recent years — if that had been any other employer, politicians would have been queuing up to demand action and a rescue plan.”

He added: “Local economies are being pushed further into stagnation.”

Edinburgh Council was set to approve plans to sack 1,200 people today.