Parties gear up for by-election

There are seven days of campaigning left in the by-election Glasgow East candidate profiles

Political parties will be campaigning hard in Glasgow East on Thursday, a week before the by-election vote.

The Liberal Democrats will campaign to save Parkhead fire station from closure, with Labour focusing on community health facilities.

The Conservatives will concentrate on the rising cost of living while crime and regeneration will occupy the SNP.

Voters in Glasgow East go to the polls on 24 July, when they will choose between nine candidates.

Lib Dem candidate, Ian Robertson, will launch his campaign to save Parkhead fire station from closure.

He said the Fire Brigades Union had raised concerns that the station would be recommended for closure, seriously affecting fire service operations in the east end.

Gang alternative

Labour's Margaret Curran will be visiting Barlanark Community Health Shop.

She will be discussing ways of boosting local health facilities across the Glasgow East constituency.

Conservative candidate, Davena Rankin, will be joined on the campaign trail by former party leader, William Hague, and the party's Scottish leader, Annabel Goldie.

They will be focusing on the rising cost of living and how it is hitting families, particularly in the east end.

For the SNP, John Mason will be dropping in at the Global Glasgow Youth Project.

He will be highlighting how voluntary youth organisations in the area can, with the proper funding, provide an alternative to gang culture.

The by-election is taking place in one of the safest Labour seats in the country after the party's David Marshall stood down because of health reasons.

Labour had a 13,500 majority over the Nationalists at the last general election.