A PUBLIC consultation on plans for a memorial to victims of the Irish Famine has been put on hold until after the Scottish elections over fears the project is at risk of being politicised.

Officials at Glasgow City Council have delayed the plans, which include an exhibition of ideas by schoolchildren and artists for the long-awaited memorial, after expressing concerns the promotion of ideas around refugees could be seen as partisan, a move described by one expert as "over cautious".

The consultation was due to get underway in early March but will be shelved until mid-May.

Sources within the authority said that elements opposed to immigration could use the consultation and exhibition to claim public cash and resources were being used for the promotion of politicised agendas before the Holyrood poll.

As well as commemorating the 100,000 who fled to the city to escape starvation in Ireland in the 1840s and those escaping the Famine in the Highlands, the planned memorial is underpinned by Glasgow's role as destination for those seeking sanctuary from more recent events.

But the move has caused some frustrations amongst the cross-party politicians promoting the scheme, which the city council agreed to almost four years ago.

Labour's Matt Kerr, who heads the committee behind council-backed memorials, confirmed the official pre-election period made the March schedule for the start of the consultation "problematic".

He said: "Given how drawn out this process is and the frustration I feel personally I understand if others feel the same. It shouldn't be as difficult as this.

"But on balance it isn't worthy the risk of accusations we've broken any rules, delayed the project even further or indeed put it at risk. I want tbhis delivered."

According to the council it is bound by the Local Government Act 1986 which defines a pre-election period as between the time of publication of a notice of an election and polling day.

It said the Act placed restrictions on the organising of events, press briefings, social media updates and website content.

But Feargal Dalton, the SNP council behind the idea, said the issue was less the election delay but the time already taken on the commemoration.

He said: "You look at the effort put into the statue for (1915 rent strikes organiser) Mary Barbour and compare with the Famine memorial and realise the issue isn't an understandable two month delay but a lack of ambition. That's the real frustrating issue."

Dr Neil McGarvey, an expert in local government at Strathclyde University, said the council's interpretation of the Act was "over cautious".

He added: "I'd think it was more reflective of Glasgow politics and sectarianism than in any legal reality. If there were any problems it wouldn't be the outcome of a complaint, which would be difficult to stand up, but the process itself."

A council spokesman said: “The test we have to apply is whether the council’s actions could possibly be perceived as seeking to influence public opinion.

“In this case, a major part of the context for the Highland and Irish Famine Memorial is the contribution inward immigration has made to Glasgow and the welcome our city continues to offer refugees today.

“These are, unavoidably, sensitive subjects for some people and officers recommended a change to the timing of the public exhibition to minimise any risk to the project.”

Around a million died and a further million emigrated during the famine, caused by the Europe-wide potato blight. There are already 142 memorials across the globe to the those who fled from Ireland during the period.

Last year Professor Sir Tome Devine, the country's pre-eminent historian, slated the council handling of the plans, accusing the authority of "amateurism".