Alistair Darling: Glasgow's future at stake in Glasgow North-East by-election

Nov 10 2009 By Magnus Gardham

THE Glasgow North-East by-election is a fight for the "future" of the city, Alistair Darling declared yesterday.

Clutching a s1 bag of apples he bought on avisit to the constituency, the Chancellor said Labour were spending bigto create vital jobs in the area.

And he hit out at the SNP's decision to scrap the Glasgow airport rail link, which dashed hopes of 1000 new jobs.

Darling spoke out on a visit to an Asda in Robroyston as the campaign entered its final, frantic 72 hours.

He said: "The key issues are jobsand Glasgow's future. What's going to make the difference is gettingpeople into work.

"That's why we're spending so much on helping people who lose their jobs get back into work."

But he added: "I cannot understand why the Scottish government and Alex Salmond decided to cancel the Glasgow airport rail link.

"Glasgow can be a world-class city andtransport links are critical. At a time when we need to be creatingjobs and only public spending is doing it, that's a big differencebetween us and the SNP."

Labour also stepped up their campaign with avisit from Home Secretary Alan Johnson, who met community wardens inBalornock before meeting voters on the doorstep with candidate WillieBain.

Johnson hit out at SNP government plans toabolish short-term jail sentences of six months or less in all but ahandful of cases.

He said: "The public want to see criminals rehabilitated but they want to see them punished as well."

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg campaigned withcandidate Eileen Baxendale. He said: "We are starting from a low base.I'm not going to start building castles in the sky."

SNP hopeful David Kerr claimed Labour were using the London Olympics to "rip off" Glasgow.

BNP leader Nick Griffin tried to hijack the haggis in a bid to win votes.

He said: "I'll be making sure I have some haggis, it's a favourite of mine."

Voters go to the polls on Thursday to choose a successor to former Commons Speaker Michael Martin.

Listen to our special by-election podcast here.