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    Ministers descend on Glasgow

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    Member News

    9th November 2009

    Chancellor Alastair Darling and home secretary Alan Johnson have been campaigning in Scotland today, ahead of the Glasgow North East by-election on Thursday.

    The visit by the two senior cabinet ministers follows a visit to the constituency by Gordon Brown last week.

    Speaking in support of Labour candidate Willie Bain, the chancellor accused the Scottish National Party of failing to pay sufficient attention to the needs of the constituency.

    "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 the city.

    He also sought to dismiss the BNP, who are fielding a candidate in the race.

    "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," he said.

    But SNP candidate David Kerr accused the government in Westminster of withholding funds from the city.

    He said: "Glasgow has been deprived of £300m by the London Labour government who refuse to pay up the money this city is due.

    "Where regeneration money has been spent on London's East End for the Olympics, the UK government should have paid the equivalent amount - £300m - to Scotland for the Glasgow Games.

    "Even Labour peers in the House of Lords agree.

    "Why shouldn't Glasgow be treated the same as London?

    “Why is it Labour think they can short change Glasgow, but take your support for granted."

    Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg will also be campaigning in the constituency on behalf of his candidate Eileen Baxendale.

    And David Cameron has previously visited the city to campaign for Conservative candidate Ruth Davidson.

    Voters go to the polls on Thursday to elect a replacement for former Commons Speaker Michael Martin, who resigned the post and as MP on 21 June in the wake of his handling of the MPs' expenses controversy.

    The MP since 1979, Martin never polled less than 50 per cent of the vote.

    He carried the seat in 2005 with a majority of 15,153 and Labour is expected to cling on - if with a reduced majority – on Wednesday.

    Despite Martin's resignation, the family maintains a strong political presence in the area.

    Michael Martin's son Paul took over 50 per cent of the vote and a 5,095-vote majority in the 2007 election for the Holyrood seat of Glasgow Springburn - Labour's safest seat in the Scottish Parliament.

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