However, the council agreed an equal pay deal worth about £500 million in 2019 for thousands of predominantly female workers, with the average payout expected to be about £35,000.

A pay grading scheme has still not been introduced and unions claim discrimination remains in place. The GMB warned the outstanding bill will be huge and the union’s members have been balloted for strike action.

Mr Smith told the Daily Record: “said: “If the council really thinks it can fix this [dispute] alone then it had better start making plans to flog the Dali because there is no way this discrimination is going to be paid for off the back of hard-pressed workers in a cost-of-living crisis.”

Glasgow City Council insiders said they would not be “joining in with people just making up figures” and they would be “very surprised” if a better plan to raise the necessary funds could not be produced.

A spokesman said: “We’re negotiating with trade unions and others representing claimants. We will only know the cost of settling claims once we have a deal – and that will determine any financial strategy.”