'Time for change' in by-election

Alex Salmond said it was time for change in Glasgow North East Glasgow by-election: Candidates

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has claimed the SNP is closing the gap between it and Labour in the Glasgow North East by-election.

His claim came as Scottish party leaders hit the campaign trail with less than two weeks until polling day.

Labour said it was leading the way on the economy and helping create the next generation of workers.

The Lib Dems and Tories dismissed claims the contest was a two-horse race, and said they would fight hard.

Voters will go to the polls on 12 November to elect one of 13 candidates as an MP.

Labour are not how people are going to vote this time round Tavish Scott Scottish Liberal Democrats

The seat was vacated by former Commons Speaker Michael Martin, who resigned amid the Westminster expenses row.

Mr Salmond, who tried his hand at bingo-calling in the constituency, declared it was time for change.

"We started behind, but the objective is to get in front by polling day," he said.

Mr Salmond added: "We've still got two weeks to go. We're working hard and we're not taking anything for granted.

"We are the underdogs but there's a lot of underdogs in this constituency and folk like that as well and they know we're trying harder to come first."

Labour, which has held the seat for more than 70 years, took its campaign to a local rail maintenance firm.

John Park MSP said the firm was the kind of local employer supported by Labour for decades, which was also training the next generation of workers through its apprenticeship programme.

'Fight for votes'

"We've seen an expansion of 7,800 apprentices over the past year - that was something Labour managed to achieve during the budget negotiations, but there is capacity for more," he said.

"If we don't train new apprentices then we're letting down the next generation."

Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie aimed to highlight local community spirit in a constituency blighted by unemployment and other economic problems at a community allotment project.

And she vowed to fight for every last vote.

Miss Goldie added: "We fight every seat to win. We fight every seat to do out best. We've important arguments and policies to take to voters in areas like Glasgow North East and I think everybody is desperate for a change from this failed Labour government."

Speaking on a visit to an educational centre Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott was keen to dispel the Labour and SNP claim that this was a two-horse race.

He said: "No politician is going to say what's going to happen before the good people of Glasgow have made up their minds as to how they are going to vote but what I do think is that Labour are not how people are going to vote this time around.

"They've had enough of it. It's always been that way and poverty levels, deprivation levels and jobs are not happening here under Labour."