Scottish ministers have been accused of providing misleading information regarding the costs of the Glasgow Airport rail link by the head of the Glasgow City Council Steven Purcell.

Purcell has raised doubts over the accuracy of double-accounting on the rail project which has been scrapped by the government. The Scottish ministers had decided to disband the project over forecasted budget cuts and rising construction costs. The government claimed that costs for the project had risen to a level where they were no longer able to support the rail link but Purcell argues that the rise in cost has been just £2.5 million, whereas the government figures were closer to £70 million.

The government has laughed off Purcell’s claims, stating that the figure was constantly in a state of change, but confirmed that it was now too high to continue to support. Purcell has stated that he was told by the inquiry into the project head, Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson, of the cost since the bill’s introduction reaching £70 million. However, details of the financial plan for the link have been obtained by Mr Purcell who points out that the total cost has risen from£395 million to £397.5 bringing the government’s claims into question.

Glasgow City Council has labelled the SNP anti-Glasgow and claim the latest reports are deliberately misleading. Relationships between the government and council have soured considerably since the decision was made to scrap the project. The government has said that it will push ahead with a separate project to refurbish the Dalmarnock rail station in the East End ahead of the 2014 commonwealth games.