The Scottish Banner speaks to Jacqueline McLaren, the Lord Provost of Glasgow.
The Lord Provost is Glasgow’s First Citizen and the position dates back hundreds of years. Can you briefly tell us about the role of the Lord Provost and just how proud you are to hold this historic title?
JM: It is a great honour to be singled out as the First Citizen of a city this size and the role itself goes back 550 years, and I am the sixth woman to hold this position. There will be more women to come after me of course and it is a 5-year term. The Lord Provost role is to meet and greet people who come from all over the world when they visit Glasgow. We have conferences, civic receptions, various birthdays and key events taking place year-round and we do a lot of engagement with the young people in the city about civic pride. We have thousands of young people here at the city chambers because they are the future of the city, so you need to try and get them involved in the process as early as possible.
I like also going into communities to meet people and local community groups. I am from the north of the city, and I know all the community groups in that area, but it’s great to try and touch base with other community groups that are doing similar work across the city. It inspires me and makes me want to do more. Glasgow is full of extraordinary people doing great things.
Glasgow is celebrating 850 incredible years in 2025. Can you tell us about the Glasgow 850 celebrations and how visitors can get involved?
JM: Anybody can become involved, it’s all on the Glasgow 850 website. There have been a lot of things that have happened this year so far, we did the Port Stones of the original medieval city which is a tourist point of interest, if people want to see how big the city was back in 1175, which was then only a small settlement of about 300 people, just off High Street at the Cathedral. That was the original settlement of Glasgow around that area.
We did the Port Stones for people to see what the city looked like then, and if you look at the city now and just how amazing it has become. Glasgow is now a booming city of nearly 1 million people and Glasgow 850 celebrates our story. There are lots of events happening and we invite everyone to come along and get involved.
The phrase ‘People Make Glasgow’ is so much more than a marketing slogan, it is fact. What is it about the Glaswegian character, humour and spirit that inspires you?
JM: The straight talking, I love just been told by people and it’s just the straight talk. There is no hidden agenda with people in Glasgow. If you’re a tourist visiting and you have your guide book in your hand looking for somewhere, a Glaswegian will walk up and say, ‘can I help you?’. Glaswegians are very friendly, and they will often show you where to go or may even take you to your destination, and then you hear their life story and then they want to hear your life story.
Glaswegians are like that, you can stand at a bus stop and between waiting for the bus and the time the bus arrives, you know the person’s life story. And there’s always information sharing, Glaswegians are very good sharing information with each other. That is what’s great about us, we’re just lovely friendly people. The world needs to realise that when they come here that is what they will find. I think we are the friendliest place on the planet.
The city of Glasgow gets its name from the Gaelic translation of Glaschu meaning Green Glen. The city has affectionately been also dubbed the ‘Dear Green Place’ as it boasts an impressive range of vibrant green and open spaces. What do you feel makes Glasgow so special in terms of its incredible greenspace offerings?
JM: For me the parks really do make Glasgow. If you look at places like the Botanic Gardens, which houses the beautiful Victorian glass houses, which you don’t see very many of them in the world. For me, it’s just the tranquil places, the beautiful places, and the places full of running water. We have the River Clyde, Kelvin and the Forth and Clyde Canal. We are surrounded by blue and green places, which is really good for your mental health. Right now in Stockingfield Bridge in North Glasgow we are transforming a derelict landsite into Scotland’s largest ceramic art park. Once it is finished Bella the Beithir the mythical serpent will become one of the points of interest on the Forth and Clyde Canal.
Ruchill Park gives people a great view of the city, people have enjoyed the view of Glasgow from this park since Victorian times. The park also gets around one million daffodils growing in it every year. Queens Park and Kelvingrove are also jewels of the city and have wonderful bandstands with lots of events taking place and beautiful walks to be done. Glasgow is a beautiful city with beautiful places to visit.
Glasgow 2026 will host the 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games next summer. What can visitors to the city look forward to in 2026 and what impact does hosting an event such as the Commonwealth Games have on the city’s brand?
JM: Next year is going to be really buzzing with people from all over the world descending on Glasgow. Athletes will be living in hotels, so if you are a visitor, you may even be in a hotel with a famous athlete. Visitors coming to Glasgow for the Games can look forward to the atmosphere, which I think will be quite electric.
Since the 2014 Games we have moved on quite a bit as a city, and we have a lot more venues and places for people to visit. I think there will be some real excitement here and visitors will be part of that. The Games are a great thing for us to again host and shows that Glasgow can host world class events and do it well.
In 2008 Glasgow was named a UNESCO City of Music. The city hosts some incredible music events and has a diverse music offering. What do you feel about the city’s vibrant music scene that makes it the music capital of Scotland?
JM: I have been going to clubs and pubs since I was young. We had music festivals and concerts and when you grow up in the city you are going to have the amazing music scene part of your life. Today the music scene is even better and has evolved.
In Glasgow you could tap the table to join in with a folk band or singalong. So, you can actually join in and be part of that experience. That is what is great about Glasgow, you are invited to be involved, and you become Glaswegian as soon as you sit down.
Glasgow City Chambers was opened by Queen Victoria in 1888 and is still today one of Scotland’s most impressive buildings. Can you tell us a bit about the building and how visitors can include a visit on their next trip to Glasgow?
JM: The City Chambers is a marvellous jewel in the crown of Glasgow. The building was built in 1888 and it was opened by Queen Victoria. The chair the Lord Provost sits on is a massive wooden chair with red leather, this same chair Queen Victoria sat on which she convened the first meeting here and I sit on that every six weeks when I convene the full council and make sure everyone’s voices are heard.
The building itself has the largest white marble staircase in all of Europe, more than the Vatican. Visitors can take the free tours available and get an inside look at this incredible building. I try a couple of times a month to visit a tour and speak to visitors about the building and the city. There are tours twice a day Monday to Friday and I encourage everyone who comes to Glasgow to come into the City Chambers.
Your role as Lord Provost will take you all over Glasgow and have you meet so many unique people and places. Do you have tips for a visitor to Glasgow? Perhaps even some of your favourite hidden gems someone may wish to consider including on their visit to Glasgow?
JM: The tour buses are great because they will take you to all the gems in the city. My favourite place is the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and I have been going there since I was a child. I love the smell as soon as I walk in and it is a home from home for me.
I would suggest readers do some research about Glasgow and look at what they really want to experience. So much is also free in Glasgow, our museums are free and we just ask people to leave a small donation in the boxes to help run these special places. It is important people experience all our culture when here, our food, music and history.
For more information on Glasgow 850 visit: at glasgow850.com and visitglasgow.com. For Glasgow City Chambers tour information visit: www.glasgow.gov.uk/article/1066/City-Chambers-Tour
Main photo: Glasgow City Chambers. Photo: VisitScotland/Kenny Lam.
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