Alex Salmond has dubbed Glasgow "freedom city", stating that the latest polls indicate the city will vote for independence in September.

The First Minister made the comments during in an interview with our sister paper, the Evening Times, despite repeating that he was on a "self-denying ordinance" not to debate politics during the Commonwealth Games.

Opposition parties described his remarks as "desperate".

Mr Salmond told the newspaper: "I'm on this self-denying ordinance, so I'm trying not to get drawn into argy-bargy with George Osborne.

"That's what I intend to do over the next 10 days and I'm sure I speak for everybody in Glasgow and Scotland.

"What I would say is I'm confident yes will win in Glasgow.

"Latest poll indicated that swing last week and I'm confident we will win the city of Glasgow so I suppose you could call Glasgow freedom city."

Mr Salmond was speaking after appearing at the Commonwealth Games Business Conference yesterday, which was jointly hosted by the Scottish and UK Governments and their enterprise agencies.

The Chancellor also spoke at the event yesterday, announcing funding towards life sciences projects in Glasgow, as part of the City Deal Prime Minister David Cameron announced this month.

Mr Salmond said: "I think most folk in Glasgow say beware of Tories bearing gifts.

"But let's take every advantage we can get because we've had precious little from George Osborne and the Tory Party."

Reacting to the First Minister's comments, Labour MSP Patricia Ferguson said: "These comments are offensive and misleading. Glasgow is already a free city and certainly doesn't need Alex Salmond to liberate it.

"At a time when Glasgow is pulling together to put on the Commonwealth Games, the First Minister should not be playing politics.

"The Commonwealth Games are in Glasgow because politicians of all parties worked together but Alex Salmond seems to have broken his own promise to stop campaigning during the events on day one."

She added: "The SNP tried to ban the 'Braveheart' language because they know it turns voters off who don't share their grievances but as their campaign becomes increasingly desperate, they are falling back into old ways."

Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: "This is desperate stuff from Alex Salmond who is now reverting to type as a chest-beating Braveheart cheerleader.

"This is tired old rhetoric from a desperate politician trying to shore up support."