Chancellor Alistair Darling hits Glasgow North East campaign trail

Published on Monday 9 November 2009 12:34

ALISTAIR DARLING hit the Glasgow North East campaign trail with the message that Glasgow is not a priority for the SNP.

The Chancellor visited an Asda supermarket in the constituency where voters are due to go to the polls on Thursday.

He told reporters that Labour could win the seat but that the party was taking nothing for granted.

"This by-election is about jobs, and is about supporting people in Glasgow and the future of Glasgow," he said.

"I think the Nationalists have shown they don't have Glasgow as a priority," he added, citing a decision by the Scottish Government to axe a planned airport rail link for Glasgow.

Mr Darling said Labour had made "the right decisions" to ensure Scotland did not suffer as it had under previous Tory governments.

Mr Darling said: "The SNP are not doing enough to help Scotland through the recession and prepare for the future.

"The SNP's isolation would have been disastrous for Scotland like (shadow chancellor) George Osborne's immediate cuts would have been disastrous for the SNP."

He produced a Royal Bank of Scotland 5 note, telling checkout operator Isabelle Guild: "From my very own bank as well," in a quip referring to the state's 84% stake in the bank.

He also attacked the BNP, who are fielding a candidate in the contest.

Mr Darling said: "People should be under no illusion as to how unpleasant and nasty the BNP is.

"I think their policies are deeply unpleasant and I hope people will reject them.

"The real choice here is between the Labour candidate who lives locally and is committed to the constituency, and a nationalist party that has let

Glasgow down."

Home Secretary Alan Johnson also took part in campaigning in Glasgow North East, and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg also joined the political fray.