Glasgow's Labour councillors have been gagged by the leadership after several spoke out about the number of women in top council posts.

Councillor Alistair Watson, who enforces group discipline, has warned councillors that “under no circumstances” should they speak to the media without “prior approval”.

One Labour councillor slammed the move as “Stalinist” and described the leadership as a “boys’ club”.

Another vowed that they "will not be bullied into silence".

Labour group policy states that councillors should "seek to promote Labour Party policies and to represent and empower local people and communities".

The row began when concerns were raised at a private meeting that the leadership was failing to honour a commitment to gender equality.

The Labour group recently passed a motion in support of the Women 5050 campaign which calls for legislative 50% quotas for women on public boards, in parliament and in local councils. The drive for equality was launched in September 2014 by Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale.

Glasgow City Council leader Frank McAveety has previously increased the number of female Labour councillors on the ruling executive committee from one to three, with the Labour group also contributing seven men.

But appointing Philip Braat to replace Paul Rooney as City Treasurer at the beginning of the year was a “missed opportunity” to move towards gender equality, according to some Labour councillors.

It is understood that the council leadership has been left red faced by criticism from Labour colleagues.

An email from Alistair Watson to councillors, seen by the Evening Times, states: “Following recent media coverage of matters discussed during our group meetings, I am writing in my formal capacity as Glasgow Labour group whip to reiterate the importance of adhering to group discipline.

“We are a single group focussed on providing the best for our local communities and Glasgow. Group meetings are designed to be a place where matters can be freely discussed and debated.

“Under no circumstances should any members of the group speak to the press on any matters of group policy without seeking the prior approval of the group office.

“I trust your co-operation on this matter."

One Labour councillor, who asked not to be named, said: “This means we can’t speak on group policy without prior approval of the whip. It’s Stalinist.

“It would seem it’s alright for the boys’ club of Frank McAveety, George Redmond, Alistair Watson and Bob Wylie (McAveety’s senior special adviser) to leak on anything when they want but not for women to talk about established Labour Party gender balance policy as outlined by Kezia Dugdale.”

Another councillor added: “This attempt to prevent group members from speaking out on gender balance shows that the leadership knows they are in the wrong here.

“The world has moved on and Glasgow Labour needs to be at the front of that, fighting for equality. We will not be bullied into silence.”

Alistair Watson, Chief Whip of the Glasgow Labour Group said: “The Labour Group in Glasgow has a set of agreed rules. Every councillor in the Labour Group has signed up to abide by these sensible political principles, including collective responsibility. On Friday I took the opportunity to remind my colleagues of their responsibilities in this regard. Simple.”