Trust a Labour local champion
Dugdale backs Watson to win Glasgow East from SNP
LABOUR sought to exploit Glasgow East MP Natalie McGarry’s legal trouble yesterday in the battle to win back their former heartland seat.
The 35-year-old announced she would not stand for re-election after the SNP ruled she could not represent the party as she is facing fraud changes.
McGarry won the seat in the SNP landslide in 2015 with a 10,000 majority on a 30 per cent swing.
But she withdrew from the SNP whip amid allegations about potential financial discrepancies in the accounts of two pro-independence groups later that year.
Kate Watson, former Better Together director of operations, is now hoping to win the seat for Labour.
And during a campaign visit yesterday, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale claimed voters in Glasgow East had been “let down” by the Nationalists.
She said: “The people of Glasgow East need a local champion, not someone who let them down like Natalie McGarry did.
“The election in Glasgow is a two-horse race between Labour and the SNP.
“The best way to send a message to Nicola Sturgeon that people want her to focus on the day job is to vote Labour on June 8.”
Watson added: “This area needs an MP who will spend every day focused on standing up for working families and fighting cuts, not someone who will campaign for another divisive referendum.”
The SNP have not yet selected a candidate for the seat but are expected to be strong favourites.
McGarry revealed she was pregnant last week after fainting at Westminster and being treated by ambulance staff.
The police investigation centred on McGarry’s involvement with Women for Independence (WFI).
It’s understood the charges against her also relate to her involvement with the SNP Glasgow Regional Association.
She denies any wrongdoing.