Glasgow East: Weary candidates on the home straight

Published on Wednesday 23 July 2008 21:54

ONE began the day with a bowl of muesli; the other evoked echoes of former Tory prime minister John Major, using a soapbox for a last-day rallying call to supporters.

But political stereotypes are not what they once were, and it was SNP candidate John Mason who was tucking into a healthy breakfast that owes more to the New Labour heartland of Islington than his home turf of the East End of Glasgow.

For her part, Labour's Margaret Currant was keen to maintain her image of a street-wise fighter with her rallying cry to the troops in Parkhead.

The candidates began the day by crossing swords on a BBC Radio Scotland debate. This included Ms Curran's refusal to commit to relocating from Glasgow's south-side to the East End if elected to Westminster.

Mr Mason, meanwhile, went bowling before meeting voters on the street and attending his final media call. At the event, he held true to what has been a fairly fought campaign and refused to make a personal attack on Ms Curran over her choice of home, saying the question was "for Margaret Curran to answer".

With more voters to meet and doors to knock on, he said it had been a tiring campaign – with the prize at stake the "phenomenal honour" of serving Glasgow East at Westminster.

Ms Curran, who also looked out on her feet, would surely agree.